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]()
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Bush Early Girl Hybrid
63 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Bush Early Girl Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, determinate, heat tolerant, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Cucumber Seeds - Spacemaster 80
60-65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Spacemaster 80 Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Little Marvel
Non-GMO, Heirloom Little Marvel Pea Vegetable Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Pisum sativum. Little Marvel English Heirloom Pea Seeds came from England during the 1980s as a semi-dwarf shelling...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Minnesota Midget
65-70 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo var. reticulatus. Minnesota Midget Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Kandy Korn Hybrid
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Kandy Korn Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Pea Seeds - Perfection Dark Seeded
Non-GMO, Heirloom Dark-seeded Perfection Pea Vegetable Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Pisum sativum. Around 4,000 years ago, garden peas were cultivated in Europe. This heirloom is an early-to- harvest...
Melon Seeds - Canary Yellow
80-120 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Canary Yellow Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. This winter melon...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Sugar Sprint
Non-GMO Sugar Spring Snap Peas are ready in 58 days. It is one of the earliest varieties, so plant these in succession for some early spring vegetables. These are delicious...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Beefmaster Hybrid
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Beefmaster Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses. Resistant to...
Mustard - Farmer's Favorite Cover Crop Mix
35-45 Days to maturity. Brassica juncea. Farmer's Favorite Mustard Cover Crop Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, Open Pollinated, Annual. This is a blend of several mustards that work well together to provide...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Lemon Boy Hybrid
75-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Lemon Boy Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Carrot Seeds - Chantenay Red Core
65-70 days. Red Core Chantenay carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. The Chantenay Red Core carrot seeds produce blunt roots that can grow up to six inches long....
Pea Seeds - Snap - Sugar Daddy
70-80 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Sugar Daddy Snap Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery mildew...
Cabbage Seeds - All Seasons Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata (87days) (Also known as "The Vandergaw" and "Novelty") A good mid-season cabbage for those regions with a moderate to warm summer. All seasons cabbage is heat...
Beet Seeds - Chioggia (Organic)
55 Days. Beta vulgaris. Organic. 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 - Long Green Imp. Slicing
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Long Green Improved Slicing Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised...
Melon Seeds - Crenshaw - Crenshaw
110 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Crenshaw Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Crenshaw Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. The Crenshaw...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Green Arrow
65-70 days. Green Arrow Pea Seeds. Pisum sativum. Non-GMO. Hails from England and has been a gourmet variety in the EU for years. It is a heavy yielding shelling pea...
Pea - Austrian Field Pea - Cover Crop Seeds
60-70 Days to Termination. Pisum sativum subsp. arvense . Non-GMO. Heirloom. Open-Pollinated. Austrian field pea cover crop seeds are a non-GMO, restorative, low-growing, vining legume known to convert over 200...
Pea Seeds - Snow - Oregon Giant
In 67 days you could be eating Oregon Giant Snow Peas straight from the garden. These snow peas are considered one of the largest, crispiest, and sweetest. Vines stay below...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Cimmaron
65 days. This charming heirloom romaine produces a 10 to 12 inch, deep-red head with good flavor and a crisp tender texture. Virtually impervious to bolting. These non-GMO Cimarron seeds...
Beet Seed - Bulls Blood
40-52 days. The Bull's Blood beet is a variety of beet that has a higher nutritional value than others. In addition to this, Bull's Blood is often grown as an...
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Bronze Mignonette
Non-GMO Bronze Mignonette Butterhead Lettuce is tolerant of warm temperatures making it perfect for southern gardens. Mignonette is known for bronze streaks on medium green leaves and is very beautiful....
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Pineapple
85-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Pineapple Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Lettuce Seeds - Little Gem - Organic
Lactuca sativa . (50 days) Little Gem lettuce is a tiny single serving size lettuce with rich dark green Organic leaves and a sweet, buttery flavor. Non-astringent flavor makes them...
Beet Seeds - Cylindra
55 days. The Cylindra beet is a variety of beet that originated in Denmark. Their long, cylindrical shape makes them ideal for anyone who wants a larger yield of beets...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Burpee Big Boy Hybrid
78 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Burpee Big Boy Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Eggplant Seeds - Black Beauty - Organic
Solanum melongena esculentum (80 days) Black Beauty Organic Eggplant has large, jet-black fruits that are egg-shaped and weigh 1-3 pounds. Was also know as "Imperial Black Beauty." Eggplant Seeds -...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Gardener's Delight
50-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Gardeners Delight Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Lettuce Seeds - Heatwave Mix
45-60 days. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Heatwave Lettuce Seed Mix. Lactuca. The Heatwave Lettuce Mix lettuces that thrive in the heat and remain productive. Our choice "slow-bolt" varieties feature Grand Rapids, Prizehead,...
Cucumber Seeds - Tsuyataro - Hybrid
55 to 75 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus var. tsuyataro. Tsuyataro Cucumber Hybrid Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. This outstanding, easy-to-grow, burpless type is popular in Japan. The skin is...
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