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]()
Beet Seeds - Sugar Beet
Beta vulgaris (90 days) Sugar beets are a natural source of sugar and where most of the sugar industry derives its sugar from these days. Beets are up to 1...
Wildflower Seeds - Hummingbird and Butterfly
Grow a beautiful, colorful wildflower garden with our National Hummingbird & Butterfly Seed Collection. This wildflower blend grows a season-long charm that lives up to its name attracting hummingbirds, butterflies,...
Thyme Seeds - French
Non-GMO, Heirloom, Open Pollinated French Thyme Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Thymus vulgaris. French Thyme is a cold hardy perennial with gray-green leaves and bold floral and earthy...
Beet Seeds - Chioggia
55 Days. Beta vulgaris. Annual. Open-pollinated. Pronounced "key-oh-jah" after the small Venetian villa town, non-GMO Chioggia beet seeds are a classic Italian garden heirloom grown and sold throughout the Mediterranean...
Cucumber Seeds - Tendergreen Burpless (Organic)
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Tendergreen Burpless Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, burpless, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots,...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Imperial 45
65-85 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Imperial 45 Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Cucumber Seeds - Muncher Burpless - Organic
65-70 days. Muncher Cucumber Seeds Organic. Cucumis sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. One of the most reliably productive and tolerant grows on the farm or in the home garden, Muncher cucumber has...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Giant Caesar
Giant Caesar Lettuce Seeds. 70 days to maturity. Lactuca sativa. Heirloom, Annual. The Giant Caesar Lettuce is an amazing bright green loose-leaf romaine type that has a buttery sweet flavor...
Cabbage Seeds - Late Flat Dutch
100 days. The Late Flat Dutch cabbage produces large, pale green heads. It is a hardy garden crop that can be grown in climate zones one through ten. After around...
Cucumber Seeds - Homemade Pickles
Non-GMO, open-pollinated Homemade Pickles Cucumber Seeds from True Leaf Market yield a pickling-variety of cucumber with small white spines and crunchy cores. Growing on up to 5' disease-resistant vines, the...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Freckles
50-70 days. These non-GMO Freckles lettuce seeds grow into green leaves of lettuce with red spots that are ready to harvest in 50 to 70 days. The Freckles thrives in...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Hearts of Gold
80-90 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Cabbage Seeds - Savoy Perfection
90 days. The Savoy Perfection cabbage is a unique variety that doesn't produce the sulfur-like smell that other varieties of cabbage do when they are cooked. It is a hardy...
Cucumber Seeds - Sweet Success Hybrid
60 days. The Sweet Success Hybrid cucumber is a large variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Sweet Success Hybrid is dark green and smooth, and grows to...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Oakleaf
Non-GMO Oakleaf lettuce is ready 55-65 days. Utah State University recommends this lettuce strain. The Oakleaf can tolerate colder temperatures. The leaves of the Oakleaf have a mildly sweet flavor,...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Salad Bowl Green
45-50 days. An AAS winner, these non-GMO Salad Bowl Green seeds grow into green leaves of lettuce that are ready to harvest in 45 to 50 days. The Salad Bowl...
Cabbage Seeds - Early Round Dutch
Brassica oleracea (75 days) Also called "Round Dutch Cabbage" Early round Dutch has solid uniform, oval heads that weigh 2-5 lbs. Small, short-stemmed, short core, good wrapper leaves and slow...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Gold Nugget
60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Gold Nugget Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Grand Rapids
50-60 days. These non-GMO Grand Rapids lettuce seeds grow into large green leaves that are resistant to tip burn. Grand Rapids Lettuce is ready to harvest in 55 days. The...
Lettuce Seeds - Super Red Romaine
Lactuca sativa (40 days) Super Red Romaine Lettuce has long crunchy spoon shaped leaves that start green and turn to an intense red. Very intense colored romaine that is highly...
Mixed Greens Seeds - Mesclun Mix - Organic
A succulent blend of gourmet greens that will satisfy your pallet and is extremely healthy. This mesclun blend is the type normally served in fine restaurants, but you can grow...
Onion Seeds - Long - White Sweet Spanish
120 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. White Sweet Spanish Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Corn Seeds - Flour - Painted Mountain (Organic)
90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Painted Mountain Organic Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, certified organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, Flour Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds....
Cabbage Seeds - Golden Acre (Organic)
65 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Organic Golden Acre Cabbage Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom cabbage seeds. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Onion Seeds - Short - Red Grano
112 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Grano Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Beet Seeds - Golden - Organic
(58 days) aka Golden Detroit Golden beet made its debut in 1970. If you are annoyed with those pesky red beets "bleeding" all over your counters, then this is the...
Cucumber Seeds - Pickling - Bush Pickle
50 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Bush Pickle Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses (with...
Cucumber Seeds - Tokiwa
55-75 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus var. tokiwa. Tokiwa Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual heirloom. Non-GMO. This uniform, dark green variety grows 1.5" in diameter and 9-10" long. Although the fruit...
Cucumber Seeds, Japanese - Progress - Hybrid
50-60 Days to Maturity.Cucumis sativus Progress Japanese Cucumber Seeds F1. Hybrid. Non-GMO. Annual. Non-GMO. This Japanese cucumber has glossy, green, smooth skin and is crisp and very tasty. This is...
Onion Seeds - Long - Ruby
100 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Ruby Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Ruby...
Carrot Seeds - Black Nebula
Daucus carota This highly attractive open pollinated carrot variety was bred especially for the home gardener. The dark purple roots can be eaten fresh, roasted, steamed or used for dye....
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