May is the month when the gardening season shifts into high gear across most of the country. In cold-winter zones, the last frost is finally behind us, and it's time to get warm-season crops in the ground. In mild-winter zones, the garden is already humming, and the focus turns to keeping up with rapid spring growth. And in the warmest zones, the race is on to get heat-lovers established before summer temperatures take over. Whatever your zone, May is a month of momentum.
Zones 1-7a: May is the main planting kickoff in cold-winter zones, when gardens finally move from starts and prep into full outdoor action. Early May often still favors hardy transplants and direct-sown cool-season crops, while mid-to-late May is when many areas can safely set out warm-season plants as frost risk drops. Keep hardening off seedlings, use row cover if nights run cold, and focus on steady watering and early weed control so young plants establish quickly.
Zones 7b-9a: May is prime warm-season planting time in mild-winter zones, with soil temperatures rising and growth accelerating. This is the month to get main-season crops established outdoors, keep up with succession sowing, and set up supports before vines and tall plants take off. Watch moisture as days warm, mulch to hold soil moisture, and keep an eye out for the first big flush of pests as the garden hits its stride.
Zones 9b-12: May marks the shift into early summer conditions in the warm-winter zones, and gardens respond fast with rapid growth. Warm-season crops should be planted and growing strongly now, and succession sowing keeps harvests coming even as temperatures climb. Stay ahead of heat stress by mulching, watering consistently, and planting in the coolest part of the day - and in the hottest areas, begin planning for shade cloth and other summer protection.
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![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Carrot Seeds - Parisian
60 days. Parisian Carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. The Parisian Carrot is unique in both its shape and ability to grow in difficult soils. This carrot variety...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Super Sugar Snap
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Super Sugar Snap Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery mildew...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Little Gem
Non-GMO, Heirloom Little Gem Lettuce Seeds from True Leaf Market. These little treasures grow into small, green heads of lettuce that are ready to harvest in approximately 70 days. The...
Onion Seeds - Short - Red Creole
110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Creole Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Resistant to...
Beet - Microgreens Seeds
12-23 days. Beet microgreens have beautiful variegated stems and leaves with an earthy, almost sweet flavor. Beet microgreens are easy to grow from seed in soil. Hydroponic mediums aren't suitable...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Ambrosia Hybrid
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Ambrosia Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone regions....
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Black Seeded Simpson
These non-GMO Black Seeded Simpson seeds grow into vibrant, green leaves of lettuce that are ready to harvest in just 40 to 49 days. The Black Seeded Simpson lettuce can...
Carrot Seeds - Danvers 126 (Organic)
65-70 days. Organic Danvers 126 Carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Danvers carrot seeds is a hardy 19th century American garden heirloom grown for its rugged tolerance to...
Pak Choi Seeds - White Stem
Up to 33 days. Pak Choi is also known as Bok Choy. The plant produces large, green leaves off a thick, white stem. Leaves have a mild and peppery flavor,...
Wildflower Seeds - Save the Monarchs
Save The Monarchs Seed Collection. Ornamental Flower Seeds. 100,000 seeds of 13 Varieties of Assorted Wildflower Seeds. Heirloom. Non GMO. High Germination. Save the Monarchs Seed Collection is an exclusive...
Pea Seeds - Snow - Oregon Sugar Pod II
65-70 days. Oregon Sugar Pod II Snow Pea Seeds. Pisum sativum. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Oregon Sugar Pod II snow pea is an American heirloom crop specifically bred for the cooler Pacific...
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - All Year Round
65-75 days. All Year Round Butterhead Lettuce Seeds. Lactuca sativa. Non-GMO. Annual. An award-winning and absolutely hardy cultivar of butter head, Buttercrunch is tender, delicious, and looks as good in...
Carrot Seeds - Rainbow Blend (Organic)
65-75 days. The Rainbow Blend Carrot is an excellent way to get lots of colors in the garden all at once! This kaleidoscope of carrots is a colorful mixture of...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Lincoln
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Lincoln Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery mildew and...
Mustard Seeds - Southern Giant Curled
Non-GMO, Heirloom Southern Giant Curled Mustard Seeds from True Leaf Market. Southern Giant Curled Mustard is a staple in Southern gardens. It has large, bright green fringed and curled leaves...
Carrot Seeds - Scarlet Nantes (Organic)
70 days. Organic Scarlet Nantes carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. One of the most popular and widespread varieties of carrot ever, Organic Scarlet Nantes has since been the...
Cabbage Seeds - Copenhagen Market
65 to 75 days. The Copenhagen Market cabbage was produced in Denmark and brought to America in 1909. It is a hardy plant that can be grown in climate zones...
Cucumber Seeds - Ashley
65 days. The Ashley cucumber is a large variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Ashley is green and smooth, and grows to be seven to eight inches...
Cucumber Seeds - Straight Eight (Organic)
55-65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Straight Eight Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, 1935 AAS-winning, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Oregon Spring
58 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Oregon Spring Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses. Resistant...
Carrot Seeds - Tendersweet - Organic
Daucus carota (75 days) Tendersweet has long, 9-10" tapered roots; rich orange color; sweet, and coreless. This heirloom carrot is a reliable producer that has been pleasing folks for generations....
Carrot Seeds - Little Fingers
55 days. The Little Fingers carrot seeds produce adorable mini carrots with a beautiful orange color, packed with flavor! These smaller roots are cylindrical and grow up to 4 inches...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Stowells Evergreen
95 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Stowells Evergreen Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Lollo Rosso (Organic)
55-60 days. Lactuca sativa. Organic Lollo Rosso Lettuce seeds grow as cool-season crops and fast-maturing annuals. Lollo Rosso Italian Lettuce can be harvested as a "cut and come back again"...
Melon Seeds - Honeydew - Green Flesh
105 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Green Flesh Honeydew Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Honeydew Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Wildflower Seeds - Bee Friendly Mix
Grow a delightful, charming wildflower garden with our Bee Friendly Wildflower Mix. Features 19 wild flower varieties such as coneflower plants for pollination, alyssum flower seeds, poppy seeds, and lupine...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Sunsugar Hybrid
62 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Sunsugar Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses, and containers....
Corn Seeds - Flint - Hopi Blue
100 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Blue Hopi Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Flint and Flour Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat...
Cucumber Seeds - Diva Hybrid
58 days. The Diva Hybrid cucumber is an early variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Diva Hybrid is dark and semi glossy, and grows to be between...
Lettuce Seeds - Crisphead - Iceberg
70-79 days. These non-GMO Iceberg seeds grow into green heads of lettuce that are ready to harvest in 70 to 79 days. The Iceberg lettuce is one of the most...
Cucumber Seeds - Lemon
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Lemon Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing or pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
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