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]()
Squash Seeds - Winter - Green Hubbard
Plant non-GMO, heirloom Green Hubbard Squash Seeds from True Leaf Market to enjoy sweet-tasting winter squash that weighs up to 12 lbs. A great variety for winter storage, the Green...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Gold Nugget
Gold Nugget Winter Squash Seeds. 95 Days to maturity. Non-GMO, heirloom, open pollinated squash seeds. Cucurbita maxima. AKA: Golden Nugget Squash, Oriental Pumpkin. Originally bred as a replacement for sweet...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Tokyo Long White (Organic)
60-90 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Organic Tokyo Long White Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, drought tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots,...
Watermelon Seeds - Giant - Florida Giant
90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Florida Giant Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, giant watermelon. The Florida Giant watermelon, AKA: Cannon Ball Watermelon, was developed in...
Eggplant Seeds - Fingers - Green
Fingers Green Eggplant Seeds. Solanum melongena. 70 days to maturity. Open Pollinated, Annual. Can be grown in containers. The plant produces light green fruits that are thin and tender. About...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Ball 2076 Hybrid
85 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Ball 2076 Hybrid Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Onion Seeds - Short - Crystal White Wax
95 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Crystal White Wax Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, organic, hybrid, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, heat tolerant, cold tolerant, drought tolerant, bulbing, bunching, short-day onion....
Lettuce Seeds - Spring Mix - Organic
40-70 Days to maturity. Lactuca sativa. Organic Spring Mix Lettuce Seeds. The Spring Lettuce Mix is a blend of lettuces chosen especially for Spring planting. They offer a good range...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Red Chili (Organic)
75-100 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Red Chili Bean Seeds (Organic). Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Indigo Rose
75-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Indigo Rose Tomato Seeds (PVP 201100302). Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Lettuce Seeds, Romaine - Vivian - Organic
Organic Vivian Romaine Lettuce Seeds. 50 days to full maturity. 28 days to maturity for baby leaves. Lactuca sativa. Open Pollinated. Non-GMO. Annual. Approx. 25,000 Seeds per ounce. Download Free...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Tuscany
78 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Tuscany Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. The Tuscany...
Pak Choi Seeds - Savoy Tatsoi
45 Days to maturity, 10-15 days for microgreens, and 20-30 days for baby leaf. Brassica rapa var. narinosa. Savoy Tatsoi Pak Choi Seeds. Cool-Warm Season Annual Heirloom. This dark green,...
Mustard - Wasabi (Organic)
Wasabi Mustard Seeds. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth. Non-GMO. 45 days. This mustard has large green leaves with wavy edges and a fun wasabi-like bite. Easy to grow in your...
Myosotis (Forget-Me-Not) Seeds - Sylvatica
2nd Year Maturity. Forget-Me-Not sylvatica seeds promise an authentic and biennial touch of the United Kingdom in your garden. Myosotis sylvatica seeds grow herbaceous 9-12" tall dwarfed branching shrubs bursting...
Penstemon Seeds - Rocky Mountain
120 Days to maturity. Penstemon strictus. Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, perennial. Rocky Mountain penstemon is easy to grow from seed and ideal for gardens prone...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Floradade
74 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Floradade Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, heat tolerant, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Pumpkin Seeds - Kentucky Field
Cucurbita moschata (113 days) Kentucky Field Pumpkin Seeds. Fruits can be variable in shape, normally deeper/longer than they are wide. Kentucky Field generally weights between 10-15 pounds. The skin is...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Husky Red Hybrid
78 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Husky Red Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, F1 hybrid, potato leaf, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Golden Honey
85-88 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Golden Honey Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Golden Honey is a sweet and sugary treat. This 10 by...
Squash Seeds - Chirimen
Cucurbita moschata (91 days) 4 g Packet of Heirloom Seeds. Musser Seed Company of Los Angeles introduced this squash in 1922. A Japanese Yokohama type squash. Chirimen is bronze-orange in...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Honeynut (Organic)
80-120 Days to maturity. Cucurbita moschata. Organic Honeynut Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, organic. Honeynut is a smaller, sweeter cousin of the butternut squash, bred for concentrated flavor and convenient...
Cabbage Seeds - Charleston Wakefield
Brassica oleracea (70-85 days) The result of a selection from Early Jersey Wakefield made on Long Island. Sold to the F. W. Bolgiano Seed Co. in 1880. Charleston Wakefield produces...
Lettuce Seeds - Parris Island Cos - Organic
Lactuca sativa. (68 days) Parris Island was developed by the USDA and Clemson in the early 1950s. Named for Parris Island off the coast of South Carolina. Organic Parris Island...
Beet Seeds - Early Wonder - Organic
(33 days for greens and 60 days for beets) Organic Early Wonder came into being sometime around 1911. This is truly one of the best beet varieties for greens. Whereas...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Black From Tula
75-85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Variety name Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Produces...
Cucumber Seeds - Painted Serpent (Organic)
63 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Organic Painted Serpent Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised...
Squash Seeds - Ebony Acorn
Cucurbita pepo (90 days) Ebony Acorn is a delicious dark acorn-type squash that is early and second only in flavor to Hubbard. Prolific 8' vines produce 1.5-2 pound fruits that...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Great White
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Great White Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Lettuce Seeds - Salad Leaf Blend
Just plant it and start making your instant salads today. Lettuce Seeds - Salad Leaf Blend You have been asking for it! So here it is, an instant salad mix...
Cucumber Seeds - Summer Dance - Hybrid
55-70 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus ‘Summer Dance’. Summer Dance Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. Best known for its extremely uniform fruit, this hybrid grows vigorously and delivers a...
Eggplant Seeds - Pandora Striped Rose
Pandora Striped Rose eggplants are a striking light pink color with white stripes. They are teardrop shaped, and typically grow to be 5-6‚ long with no thorns. Each plant has...
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