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]()
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Kagraner Sommer
50-60 days. Non-GMO. Open-pollinated. Kagraner Sommer Lettuce Seeds from True Leaf Market produce a butterhead lettuce with light green leaves that is slow to bolt. Also known as Kagran Summer...
Pumpkin Seeds - Musquee De Provence
C. moschata (122 days) Musquee De Provence is a French heirloom that was introduced to this country by Vaughan's Seed Store in 1899. One of the most distinct pumpkins you...
Zucchini Seeds - Round
Cucurbita pepo Round Zucchini is a stunning plant with speckled green leaves born on a robust bush-type plant. Super fast growing and are generally eaten when they are 3-4" in...
Hollyhock Seeds - Indian Spring
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Indian Spring Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Indian Spring Mix hollyhock is easy to grow from seed and ideal for gardens with mild winters across North America....
Chinese Mustard Seeds - Shuidong
35 to 45 Days to maturity. Brassica juncea. Shuidong Chinese Mustard Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, non-GMO, Cool Season Annual. Shuidong mustard is named after the town where it was first cultivated,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Big Rainbow
85-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Big Rainbow Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Pak Choi Seeds - Red Tatsoi - Hybrid
45 Days to full maturity, 20-30 Days for baby leaf, 10-15 Days for microgreens. Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa. Red Tatsoi, Pak Choi Seeds. Annual, Hybrid. Cool Season. This vigorous hybrid...
Radish Seeds - Crimson Giant
Raphanus sativus (29 to 40 days) Sometimes called Crimson "Giant Globe Radish" or "Giant Butter Radish". Crimson Giant Radish seeds grow large 1 1/2 - 2" globe shaped crimson red...
Lanceleaf Coreopsis Seeds
100-300 Days to maturity. Coreopsis lanceolata. Lanceleaf Coreopsis Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Lanceleaf Coreopsis flowers are perennial wildflowers with solitary yellow daisy-like flowers blooming on long stalks from May to August....
Beet Seeds - Red Mammoth Mangel
Beta vulgaris (100 days) Fodder beets have been around since the 1400s if not earlier. These beets were prized as nutritious animal feed that was easy to store. Fodder beets...
Carrot Seeds - Purple Haze Hybrid
70 days. The Purple Haze carrot produces roots with a beautiful blend of purple and orange that looks almost tie dye-like. Each carrot has a deep purple exterior with a...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Blue Lake 274 (Treated)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Blue Lake 247 Bush Bean Treated Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom snap bush bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Beefsteak Rainbow Blend
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Beefsteak Rainbow Mix Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Cucumber Seeds - Bushy
48 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Bushy Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, all-purpose cucumber for pickling or slicing. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots,...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Incredible R/M Hybrid
85 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Incredible Hybrid R/M Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Onion Seeds - Intermediate - Red Torpedo
110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Torpedo Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bulbing, intermediate-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds. A fantastic onion...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Napoli
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Napoli Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, determinate, Italian paste tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - White Ishikura (Organic)
60-66 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Organic Bunching White Ishikura Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold hardy, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised...
Borage Seeds (Organic)
60-70 Days to maturity. Borago officinalis. Organic Borage Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom herb. Borage is commonly referred to as a starflower due to its beautiful, star-shaped blue flowers. This...
Watermelon Seeds - Giant - Congo
95 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Congo Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, giant watermelon. Resistant to Anthracnose (1). Congo Watermelon produces sweet, red-fleshed melons up...
Radish Seeds - Easter Egg - Organic
Raphanus sativus (30 days) Oh what fun! Hunt Easter "egg" radishes in your own garden. Amazing array of colors will pop from your garden and straight into your salad bowl....
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Golden Queen (Organic)
65 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Golden Queen Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
California Poppy Seeds - Mission Bells
56-70 Days to maturity. Eschscholzia californica. Mission Bells California Poppy Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Mission Bells California poppy seeds grow a classic, durable, and authentic touch of the cool California hills...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Thessaloniki
66-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Thessaloniki Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Jade (Treated)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Jade Bush Treated Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, rust resistant, high-yielding, bush, snap green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Radish Seeds - China Rose - Organic
55 days. This popular radish for sprouting produces crisp rose colored winter radishes. Radishes are 8" long by 2" wide with rose colored skin and white flesh. Not suitable for...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Jubilee
72-85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Jubilee Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, 1943 AAS winner, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Cucumber Seeds - Armenian (Organic)
63 Days to maturity. Cucumis Melo. Organic Armenian Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Amish Paste
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Amish Paste Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, paste tomato. Amish Paste tomato plants produce one of the largest varieties of...
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