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]()
Kale Seeds - Premier
60 days. Premier Kale is a high yielding variety high in nutrients. This crop is leafy and green in color. Premier Kale is versatile and can be used for kale...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Yellow Pear
78 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Yellow Pear Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Cucumber Seeds - Sweet Success Hybrid
60 days. The Sweet Success Hybrid cucumber is a large variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Sweet Success Hybrid is dark green and smooth, and grows to...
Zinnia Seeds - Zahara Series (Coated)
50-60 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Zahara Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Zahara Series Zinnia flower seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their hardiness and ability to...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Bhut Jolokia Ghost
120-129 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with extremely hot heat levels....
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Oakleaf
Non-GMO Oakleaf lettuce is ready 55-65 days. Utah State University recommends this lettuce strain. The Oakleaf can tolerate colder temperatures. The leaves of the Oakleaf have a mildly sweet flavor,...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Salad Bowl Green
45-50 days. An AAS winner, these non-GMO Salad Bowl Green seeds grow into green leaves of lettuce that are ready to harvest in 45 to 50 days. The Salad Bowl...
Cabbage Seeds - Early Round Dutch
Brassica oleracea (75 days) Also called "Round Dutch Cabbage" Early round Dutch has solid uniform, oval heads that weigh 2-5 lbs. Small, short-stemmed, short core, good wrapper leaves and slow...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Blue Lake (Organic)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Blue Lake Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom snap bush bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Bean Seeds - Bush - Royal Burgundy
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Royal Burgundy Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, snap bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Gold Nugget
60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Gold Nugget Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Evergreen White Nebuka
65-120 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Evergreen White Nebuka Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Grand Rapids
50-60 days. These non-GMO Grand Rapids lettuce seeds grow into large green leaves that are resistant to tip burn. Grand Rapids Lettuce is ready to harvest in 55 days. The...
Gourds Seeds - Birdhouse
110+ days. Fun, easy to grow plants yield gourds that can be made into attractive hanging birdhouses or dippers. Allow fruit to mature on vine as long as possible. Approximately...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Tabasco
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum frutescens. Tabasco Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper hot heat levels. 30,000 to 50,000...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Big Jim
70-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Big Jim Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with medium heat...
Lettuce Seeds - Super Red Romaine
Lactuca sativa (40 days) Super Red Romaine Lettuce has long crunchy spoon shaped leaves that start green and turn to an intense red. Very intense colored romaine that is highly...
Mixed Greens Seeds - Mesclun Mix - Organic
A succulent blend of gourmet greens that will satisfy your pallet and is extremely healthy. This mesclun blend is the type normally served in fine restaurants, but you can grow...
African Marigold Seeds - Taishan Series
77-84 days. Taishan Series is easy to grow from seed and delivers neat and disease-tolerant marigolds ideal for gardens prone to heat, drought, and poor soils. With 20% shorter peduncles...
Marshmallow Herb Seeds
60-90 Days to maturity. Althaea officinalis. Marshmallow Herb Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. A beautiful pollinator and traditional medicinal...
Corn Seeds - Flour - Painted Mountain (Organic)
90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Painted Mountain Organic Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, certified organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, Flour Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds....
Onion Seeds - Long - White Sweet Spanish
120 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. White Sweet Spanish Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Scarlet Runner
50-75 Days to maturity. Phaseolus coccineus. Scarlet Runner Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, AAS Winner, drought tolerant, high-yielding, pole, snap string bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Cabbage Seeds - Golden Acre (Organic)
65 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Organic Golden Acre Cabbage Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom cabbage seeds. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Onion Seeds - Short - Red Grano
112 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Grano Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Pumpkin Seeds - Dills Atlantic Giant
120 days. Dill's Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Seeds. Cucurbita maxima. Open Pollinated. Non-GMO. Whether growing a pumpkin worthy of the county fair or looking to create enormous jack-o-lanterns for fall, Dill's...
Onion Seeds - Long - Ruby
100 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Ruby Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Ruby...
Portulaca Seeds - Double Mix
84-91 Days to maturity. Portulaca grandiflora. Double Mix Portulaca Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Double Mix portulaca seeds promise some of the most stunning, and most convenient succulents available to home gardeners....
Dandelion Seeds - True (Wild)
Taraxacum officinale. Non-GMO, Heirloom True (Wild) Dandelion Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. True wild Dandelions grow as tender perennials native to regions in Asia and Europe. Herbaceous and...
Italian Dandelion Seeds
Non-GMO, Heirloom Italian (Chicory) Dandelion Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Cichorium intybus. This is a tender perennial that originates from Italy and isa type of chicory or endive....
Dill Seeds - Dwarf Fernleaf
Non-GMO, Heirloom Dwarf Fernleaf Dill Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Anethum graveolens. Dwarf Fernleaf Dill grows as slow-bolting warm-season annuals and is native to South Russia and regions...
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