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.
50
100
true
//store.trueleafmarket.com/cdn/shop/t/54/assets/review-fallback.json?v=33078429469613971781712858278
![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Radish Seeds - Chinese - Green Meat Luobo
60 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Green Meat Luobo Chinese Radish Heirloom Seeds. Cool Season Annual. Unlike other Chinese radishes, Green Luobos aren’t globe-shaped—instead, they grow as big as 10”...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Trieste White Zucchini
Trieste White Zucchini Squash produces short fruits that are very pale green in color, and are tender and delicious. Non- GMO Half Long White Zucchini are early producers, produce on...
Eggplant Seeds - Konasu
60 days maturity after transplant. Solanum melongena ’Konasu’. Konasu Eggplant Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, heirloom. This tiny, bite-sized, rounded eggplant has shiny dark purple skin that looks almost onyx. The...
Melon Seeds - Banana
80-100 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Banana Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. These unique melons got...
Mustard Seeds - Wasabi
45 days. This mustard has large green leaves with wavy edges and a fun wasabi-like bite. Easy to grow, this mustard is also cold hardy and vigorous. Don't be mistaken,...
Melon Seeds - Casaba - Bidwell
C. indorus (95 days) This melon originated just a few minutes away from us here in Chico, CA. Bidwell is named after John Bidwell, who was a general in the...
Cucumber Seeds - Chinese Snake Curved
The Chinese Snake Curved cucumber is the curved variation of Chinese Snake cucumbers. It has strong vines that yield long curved cucumbers. Fruits are dark green and grow to be...
Eggplant Seeds - Shoya Long - Hybrid
60 days maturity after transplant. Solanum melongena ’Shoya Long’. Shoya Long Eggplant Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. An early maturing hybrid with high yields and an upright plant habit. The...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Grandeur Hybrid
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Grandeur Hybrid Japanese Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Pink Thai Egg
65-70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Pink Thai Egg Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses, and...
Triticale (Organic) - Grass Seeds
Triticale seeds are an unexpectedly tasty sprout. It is very sweet after germination and wll surpise you how wll it goes on salads! Triticale grass seeds have a pleasant, very...
Zinnia Seeds - Zowie Yellow Flame (Coated)
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Zowie Yellow Flame Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, Annual. Yellow Flame zinnia seeds are an effortless and vibrant way to grow season-long brilliance in your...
Chinese Cabbage Seeds - Spring Crisp - Hybrid
63-65 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa var. Pekinensis ‘Spring Crisp’. Spring Crisp Chinese Cabbage Hybrid seeds. Annual. Hybrid. Spring Crisp is desirable for its resistance to bolting during warm weather....
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - White Boston
White Boston butterhead lettuce is an improved Boston variety that does well in humidity and heat. Heads grow high off the ground, so the full head is usable. Heads are...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Alaska
65-75 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Alaska Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery mildew. Known...
Carrot Seeds - Shin Kuroda 5"
Non-GMO, heirloom Shin Kuroda 5" Carrot Seeds from True Leaf Market are a variant of the Chantenay-type Shin Kuroda carrot developed in Japan. The roots grow to about 5" long...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Blue Lake FM1K (Treated)
65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Blue Lake Pole FM1K treated Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, drought-tolerant, pole, snap string bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Patio Pride AAS (Organic)
40–50 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Patio Pride Pea Seeds (Organic), AAS Winner. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in containers, raised beds, and small garden spaces. This compact, early-maturing...
Onion Seeds - Intermediate - Red Cipollini
90 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Cipollini Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds. Red Cipollini is...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Flame
Flame Leaf Lettuce Seeds. 60 days to full maturity. 30 days to maturity for baby leaves. Lactuca sativa. Heirloom. Annual. Flame is a bright red leaf type selected from our...
Beet Seeds - Green Top Bunching - Organic
(60 days) Green Top Bunching beets have flattened, globe-shaped roots. Beet roots are red and tasty. Perfect for cooking or pickling. Organic Green Top Bunching Beets Seeds Green top bunching...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Andiamo Hybrid
65 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Andiamo Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, paste tomato. These 5-inch-long bright red elongated paste fruits are firm and meaty,...
Eggplant Seeds - Hansel Hybrid
Packet of 100 seeds. 55 days. AAS Winner for 2008. New, compact eggplant produces tender, non-bitter fruits that from true miniature sizes (2 to 3 inches in length), all the...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Shironata Mame Sword
80-90 Days to maturity. Canavalia gladiata. Shironata Mame Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Squash Seeds - Summer - 49er F1
49er F1 Hybrid Squash Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. F1 Hybrid. Non-GMO. Annual. 50 days to maturity. Marketable as a baby squash or full-size fruit, 49er F1 is a delicious golden yellow...
Celosia Seeds - Plumed - Kimono Mixture
85-95 Days to maturity. Celosia argentea. Kimono Mixture Plumed Celosia Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. This mix of vibrant celosias is perfect for patios, porches, and smaller plantings. The extra-dwarf plants...
Eggplant Seeds - Kamo
65 days maturity after transplant. Solanum melongena ’Kamo’. Kamo Eggplant Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, heirloom. Kamo is a highly prized traditional kyo yasai or Kyoto vegetable from the Kamo area...
Scabiosa Seeds - HiGro Mix
90-100 days to maturity. Scabiosa atropurpurea. HiGrow Mix Scabiosa Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, borders, and greenhouses. HiGrow Mix (a.k.a....
Toraji Seeds - Balloon Flower
90-120 days to maturity Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC. Balloon Flower Toraji Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Perennial in Zones 3-8. Roots can be harvested after 2-3 years. Balloon Flower can also...
Alyssum Seeds - Rosie O Day
63-77 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Rosie O Day Alyssum Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Rosie O'Day Alyssum flower seeds grow frost-tolerant and award-winning blooms where other flowers would wither. Rosie...
[
{
"featured_image": "files/radish-seeds-chinese-green-luobo-improved-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_c32d3411-4635-424f-a0fe-cd69f08dc76d.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "radish-seeds-chinese-green-luobo-improved",
"title": "Radish Seeds - Chinese - Green Meat Luobo",
"url": "/products/radish-seeds-chinese-green-luobo-improved",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/zucchini-squash-seeds-summer-trieste-white-Comp_427d98d7-c317-458f-a785-936f2cc5bbfe.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_67945b80-63eb-422e-a24e-8234f60a47ff.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "zucchini-squash-seeds-summer-trieste-white",
"title": "Squash Seeds - Summer - Trieste White Zucchini",
"url": "/products/zucchini-squash-seeds-summer-trieste-white",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-black-spanish-round-radish-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_60257a4e-2192-4316-917d-8889b74e9c83.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-black-spanish-round-radish-seeds",
"title": "Radish Seeds - Black Spanish Round - Organic",
"url": "/products/organic-black-spanish-round-radish-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/eggplant-seeds-konasu-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_76247030-facc-43c4-89a0-4e6701f0edac.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "eggplant-seeds-konasu",
"title": "Eggplant Seeds - Konasu",
"url": "/products/eggplant-seeds-konasu",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/melon-seeds-banana.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_1_49f66594-bfda-49fa-96bc-71db6f92dfcd.jpg",
"price": 199,
"handle": "melon-seeds-banana",
"title": "Melon Seeds - Banana",
"url": "/products/melon-seeds-banana",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "products/1674503837_CopyofKitazawa-WM-White_600x600px_21.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/1674503836_CopyofKItazawa-WM-Green_600x600px_41.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "mustard-wasabi-seeds",
"title": "Mustard Seeds - Wasabi",
"url": "/products/mustard-wasabi-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-bidwell-casaba-melon-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-com-sm_1_cfbdb904-f35b-4a4a-9e9c-27b5edb0bd0c.jpg",
"price": 339,
"handle": "organic-bidwell-casaba-melon",
"title": "Melon Seeds - Casaba - Bidwell",
"url": "/products/organic-bidwell-casaba-melon",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/cucumber-seeds-chinese-snake-curved-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "",
"price": 399,
"handle": "cucumber-seeds-chinese-snake-curved",
"title": "Cucumber Seeds - Chinese Snake Curved",
"url": "/products/cucumber-seeds-chinese-snake-curved",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/eggplant-seeds-shoya-long-hybrid-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_f01dc057-6158-4697-a998-1826b2b611fb.png",
"price": 499,
"handle": "eggplant-seeds-shoya-long-hybrid",
"title": "Eggplant Seeds - Shoya Long - Hybrid",
"url": "/products/eggplant-seeds-shoya-long-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tomato-seeds-grandeur-hybrid-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_d2d689fc-62e5-4b01-a15a-153a9b29cb0d.png",
"price": 199,
"handle": "tomato-seeds-grandeur-hybrid",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Grandeur Hybrid",
"url": "/products/tomato-seeds-grandeur-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tomato-seeds-pink-thai-egg-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "",
"price": 399,
"handle": "tomato-seeds-pink-thai-egg",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Pink Thai Egg",
"url": "/products/tomato-seeds-pink-thai-egg",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/triticale-organic-grass-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/16-ounce-triticale-seed-wm_700_f050d88d-bf94-411e-9231-468865d913b8.jpg",
"price": 856,
"handle": "triticale-organic-grass-seeds",
"title": "Triticale (Organic) - Grass Seeds",
"url": "/products/triticale-organic-grass-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/zinnia-zowie-yellow-flame-f1-flower-seed-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_1_1_1_1_1_1_c10d44ad-05fe-42e2-a048-61a33abef62a.jpg",
"price": 729,
"handle": "zinnia-zowie-yellow-flame-f1-flower-seed",
"title": "Zinnia Seeds - Zowie Yellow Flame (Coated)",
"url": "/products/zinnia-zowie-yellow-flame-f1-flower-seed",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/corn-early-sunglow-hybrid-seed-wm_700_1222x1222_c4ef36dc-760e-4035-bde3-6c4d23c6bb53.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_e9d92050-2d5f-46b8-b2d7-39649505c611.png",
"price": 1284,
"handle": "corn-su-early-sunglow-hybrid-treated",
"title": "Corn Seeds - Sweet - (su) Early Sunglow Hybrid (treated)",
"url": "/products/corn-su-early-sunglow-hybrid-treated",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/scabiosa-higro-mix-flower-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-sprouting-seed_23cf0365-9f19-4248-b5d1-b98b9ece126b.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "scabiosa-higro-mix-flower-seeds",
"title": "Scabiosa Seeds - HiGro Mix",
"url": "/products/scabiosa-higro-mix-flower-seeds",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "products/cabbage-spring-crisp-com-wm.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_7690aa2b-c930-4f05-a510-64345d3b750f.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "chinese-cabbage-seeds-spring-crisp-hybrid",
"title": "Chinese Cabbage Seeds - Spring Crisp - Hybrid",
"url": "/products/chinese-cabbage-seeds-spring-crisp-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/lettuce-seeds-butterhead-white-boston-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_1_95c8e4d5-643d-46b6-a7e2-6f2f40722fe1.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "lettuce-seeds-butterhead-white-boston",
"title": "Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - White Boston",
"url": "/products/lettuce-seeds-butterhead-white-boston",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/alaska-pea-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-generic-packet_1_1_c7de3da4-ae45-4903-a278-e0d268e6f588.jpg",
"price": 263,
"handle": "alaska-pea-seeds",
"title": "Pea Seeds - Shelling - Alaska",
"url": "/products/alaska-pea-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/carrot-seeds-shin-kuroda-5-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "",
"price": 399,
"handle": "carrot-seeds-shin-kuroda-5",
"title": "Carrot Seeds - Shin Kuroda 5"",
"url": "/products/carrot-seeds-shin-kuroda-5",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/bean-pole-blue-lake-pole-fm1k-treated-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_4f7a48a4-f86d-48d1-b135-ec8b88c4ee3a.png",
"price": 1469,
"handle": "bean-pole-blue-lake-pole-fm1k-treated",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Pole - Blue Lake FM1K (Treated)",
"url": "/products/bean-pole-blue-lake-pole-fm1k-treated",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/toraji-seeds-balloon-flower-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_777b8bc1-c01f-4e30-881c-c509c2274866.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "toraji-seeds-balloon-flower",
"title": "Toraji Seeds - Balloon Flower",
"url": "/products/toraji-seeds-balloon-flower",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pea-seeds-patio-pride-aas-organic-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_e003b3be-959c-4406-9106-2867cc084198.jpg",
"price": 419,
"handle": "pea-seeds-patio-pride-aas-organic",
"title": "Pea Seeds - Shelling - Patio Pride AAS (Organic)",
"url": "/products/pea-seeds-patio-pride-aas-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/red-cipollini-onion-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_36baf4ca-3474-4ba6-a620-da2319550d85.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "red-cipollini-onion",
"title": "Onion Seeds - Intermediate - Red Cipollini",
"url": "/products/red-cipollini-onion",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/lettuce-seeds-leaf-flame-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-1-lb-com_9bb40dcb-1e22-476a-903e-ae2829c6efd7.jpg",
"price": 199,
"handle": "lettuce-seeds-leaf-flame",
"title": "Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Flame",
"url": "/products/lettuce-seeds-leaf-flame",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/green-top-bunching-beets-org-com-wm_1222x1222_f5ad1fbd-7cf7-41b8-a584-ad60d4b97016.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_9c6a79a1-c2c4-4720-b718-c16294e8989b.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-green-top-bunching-beet",
"title": "Beet Seeds - Green Top Bunching - Organic",
"url": "/products/organic-green-top-bunching-beet",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tomato-seeds-andiamo-f1-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-1-lb-com_a5e82792-fd6a-4a0d-af14-3dd5863a35d7.jpg",
"price": 429,
"handle": "tomato-seeds-andiamo-f1",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Paste - Andiamo Hybrid",
"url": "/products/tomato-seeds-andiamo-f1",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/eggplant-hansel-hybrid-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-1-oz-sm_b5eae664-6738-4c83-bbd4-5a08a9836203.png",
"price": 409,
"handle": "eggplant-hansel-hybrid",
"title": "Eggplant Seeds - Hansel Hybrid",
"url": "/products/eggplant-hansel-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/sword-bean-shironata-mame-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_7478166d-f146-4743-a7f1-6d4d3e9b279c.png",
"price": 199,
"handle": "sword-bean-shironata-mame",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Pole - Shironata Mame Sword",
"url": "/products/sword-bean-shironata-mame",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/squash-seeds-summer-49er-f1-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/MVS-generic-packet-com_a7c04efc-3f48-4d27-bb39-2fe9d0593bb8.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "squash-seeds-summer-49er-f1",
"title": "Squash Seeds - Summer - 49er F1",
"url": "/products/squash-seeds-summer-49er-f1",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/celosia-plumed-kimono-series-mixture-flower-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-1-oz-sm_73f7c1dd-f819-4cf1-83dd-620cc48f76cb.png",
"price": 359,
"handle": "celosia-plumed-kimono-series-mixture-flower-seeds",
"title": "Celosia Seeds - Plumed - Kimono Mixture",
"url": "/products/celosia-plumed-kimono-series-mixture-flower-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/alyssum-rosie-oday-flower-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-1-oz-sm_47d7dfe8-8da2-4e7f-a58e-3381442bafff.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "alyssum-rosie-oday-flower-seeds",
"title": "Alyssum Seeds - Rosie O Day",
"url": "/products/alyssum-rosie-oday-flower-seeds",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/eggplant-seeds-kamo-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_b504ccf7-b54e-432b-9c38-11388e2eaa66.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "eggplant-seeds-kamo",
"title": "Eggplant Seeds - Kamo",
"url": "/products/eggplant-seeds-kamo",
"available": true
}
]
