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]()
Cilantro Seeds - Slow Bolt
Non-GMO, Heirloom Slow Bolt Cilantro Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Coriandrum sativum. Cilantro is native to regions in North Africa and West Asia. As a cool-season herb dating...
Asparagus Seeds - Mary Washington
2-3 years. Asparagus Gardening Seeds. Asparagus officinalis. Perennial. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Mary Washington Asparagus seeds can be grown into a hardy vegetable and are fairly easy to grow as a...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Golden Bantam 12
80-85 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Golden Bantam 12Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Cal Wonder
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. California Wonder Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Also known...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Parris Island Cos
65-70 days. The Parris Island Cos lettuce is a Romaine lettuce, which means it is among the most nutritious of lettuce varieties. These non-GMO seeds grow upright into tall heads...
Carrot Seeds - Rainbow Blend
65-75 days. The Rainbow Blend Carrot is an excellent way to get lots of colors in the garden all at once! This kaleidoscope of carrots is a colorful mixture of...
Basil Seeds - Italian Large Leaf (Organic)
Organic Italian Large Leaf basil seeds are a staple to any thriving Organic herb garden. A member of the sweet basil varieties, ocimum basilicum is easily the most common basil...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Early Prolific Straightneck
50-60 days. Early Prolific Straightneck Summer Squash Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Non-GMO Early Prolific Staightneck Summer Squash is ready to harvest from the vine after 52 days. Early...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Peaches and Cream Hybrid
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Peaches and Cream Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
Turnip Seeds - Purple Top White Globe
50-60 days. Purple Top White Globe Turnip Seeds. Brassica rapa subsp. rapa. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Purple Top White Globe Turnip seeds grow into cool season root vegetables that are hardy...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Crimson Sweet
80-90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Crimson Sweet Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Resistant to Anthracnose (1,3), Fusarium Wilt (Race 1,2). Crimson Sweet watermelon...
Cauliflower Seeds - Snowball Y Improved
70-80 days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. botrytis. Snowball Y Improved Cauliflower Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated, annual. This is suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, containers, and fields....
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - Buttercrunch (Organic)
AAS Winner. 65 days. Recommended by Utah State University, Organic Buttercrunch is the most popular of the butterhead varieties. Approx. 16,000 seeds/oz. These non-GMO Buttercrunch seeds grow into vibrant, green...
Beet Seeds - Detroit Dark Red (Organic)
55 days. Organic Detroit Dark Red beet seeds. Beta vulgaris. Non-GMO. Organic. Since the turn of the century, Organic Detroit Dark Red has been the preferred choice for homegrown classic...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Crimson Sweet (Organic)
80-90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Crimson Sweet Organic Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Resistant to Anthracnose (1,3), Fusarium Wilt (Race 1,2). Organic...
Geranium Seeds - Maverick Series
91-105 days maturity. Pelargonium x hortorum . Geranium Maverick Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Ornamental. Maverick Series geranium seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any home...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Evergreen White Nebuka (Organic)
65-120 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Organic Evergreen White Nebuka Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds,...
Oregano Seeds - Common Italian
Origanum vulgare 90 days. Perennial. Non-GMO, Heirloom Common Italian Oregano Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Common Italian Oregano is a perennial herb often called "Wild Marjoram." With the...
Leek Seeds - Large American Flag
90-130 days. Large American Flag Leek Seeds. Allium ampeloprasum. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Large American Flag seeds produce leeks with large stems and leaves. This hardy crop can tolerate cold climates...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Hales Best Jumbo
85-110 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Sungold Hybrid
57 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Sungold Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses, containers, and...
Dill Seeds - Bouquet (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Bouquet Dill Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Anethum graveolens. Organic Bouquet Dill grows fast-maturing cool-season annuals and is native to West Asia and regions in...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - TAM Jalapeno
65-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Tam Jalapeno Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot-type pepper with medium heat levels. 1,000 to...
Radish Seeds - Cherry Belle
21-28 days. Cherry Belle Radish Seeds. Raphanus sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Visually stunning, uniform, and quick to maturity in about 25 days, Cherry Belle radish is one of the most reliable...
Oregano Seeds - Common Italian (Organic)
90 days. Organic Oregano Culinary Herb Seeds. Origanum vulgare. Perennial. Non-GMO. Organic culinary oregano seeds deliver one of the more pronounced, robust, aromatic herbs in the mint family. Tenacious and...
Watermelon Seeds - Mini - Sugar Baby
75-80 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, mini watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots and large containers (minimum 7...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Golden Cal Wonder
72 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Golden Cal Wonder Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet-type, with no heat levels. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Better Boy Plus Hybrid
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Better Boy Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Sweet Banana
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Sweet Banana Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant. 0 to 500 Scoville...
Chives Seeds - Garlic
85-90 Days to maturity. Allium tuberosum. Non-GMO, heirloom Garlic Chives Herb Garden Seed. Chives are native to regions in Asia and Europe. Garlic chive cultivars are also called "Chinese Chives"...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Roma (Organic)
76 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Roma (Organic) Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, determinate, paste tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
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