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 - Little Gem - Organic
Lactuca sativa . (50 days) Little Gem lettuce is a tiny single serving size lettuce with rich dark green Organic leaves and a sweet, buttery flavor. Non-astringent flavor makes them...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Pinto (Organic)
90-95 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Pinto Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Pinto...
Beet Seeds - Cylindra
55 days. The Cylindra beet is a variety of beet that originated in Denmark. Their long, cylindrical shape makes them ideal for anyone who wants a larger yield of beets...
Rhubarb Seeds - Victoria
Non-GMO Victoria Rhubarb Seeds are a perennial heirloom that you want to include in your garden. An open-pollinated strain, Victoria Rhubarb can be raised from seed. Juicy, large stalks are...
Eggplant Seeds - Black Beauty - Organic
Solanum melongena esculentum (80 days) Black Beauty Organic Eggplant has large, jet-black fruits that are egg-shaped and weigh 1-3 pounds. Was also know as "Imperial Black Beauty." Eggplant Seeds -...
Watermelon Seeds - Mini - Sugar Baby (Organic)
75-80 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Organic Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, mini watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots and large containers...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Burpee Big Boy Hybrid
78 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Burpee Big Boy Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Gardener's Delight
50-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Gardeners Delight Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Flagpole (Organic)
60-80 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Organic Flagpole Scallion Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds....
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Suncherry Extra Sweet Hybrid
65 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Suncherry Extra Sweet Japanese Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
French Marigold Seeds - Disco Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Disco Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Disco Series French marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon
77-80 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. First bred in...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Delicious
77 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Delicious Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Echinacea Seeds - Magnus
70-84 days maturity. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea Magnus Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Perennial. Magnus echinacea seeds grow one of the summer's most celebrated and resilient blooms. These sturdy stems and flat petals...
Delphinium Seeds - Magic Fountains Series
2nd-year maturity. Delphinium elatum. Delphinium Magic Fountains Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Magic Fountains Series delphinium seeds promise some of the most stunning, bold, and vivid blooms available in any garden....
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Silver King Hybrid
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Silver King Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Artichoke Seeds - Imperial Star
150-160 days from sowing. Cynara scolymus. Imperial Star Artichoke Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial. This is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and fields. UC-bred, nearly spineless plants for first-year harvests—uniform, high-yielding...
Bachelors Buttons Seeds - Mixed Colors
77-91 days. Bachelor's Buttons Flower Seeds. AKA: Cornflower. Annual. Mixed Colors Bachelor's Buttons flower seeds are a convenient and easy summertime grow perfect for kids, indoors, or wild unkept spaces....
Asparagus Seeds - UC 157 F2
3 years to first harvest, annual harvest. Non-GMO, Hybrid. Perennial. This variety was developed at the University of California, Riverside in 1978 by Frank Southers and Frank Takatori. This hybrid...
Broccoli Seeds - Destiny Hybrid
70 to 75 days. Annual. Non-GMO Hybrid seeds. The Destiny Hybrid is a popular variety of the broccoli garden crop to grow. Destiny Hybrid seeds are more tolerant to heat...
Corn Seeds - Ornamental - Indian
100-110 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Ornamental - Indian Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Flint Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
Viola Seeds - Johnny Jump Up
65-80 Days to maturity. Viola tricolor. Johnny Jump Up Viola Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, perennial. Johnny Jump Up viola seeds are a vibrant and compact addition to your...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Thai Hot
80-89 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Thai Hot Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, high-yielding, hot pepper with hot heat levels. 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Heat...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Warrior AAS
60 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Warrior Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, AAS Regional winner (Southeast, Mountain/Southwest), bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Broccoli Seeds - Di Cicco
Brassica oleracea (50-70 days) Di Cicco is an Italian heirloom broccoli dating from 1890. Di Cicco broccoli is very vigorous, emerald green, producing nice central heads 3-5" wide. Approx. 9,000...
Cauliflower Seeds - Cheddar Hybrid
70-75 days. This beautiful orange cauliflower boasts uniform, smooth, firm heads. Leave heads untied for maximum color intensity. Roasting enhances the flavor of cheddar cauliflower. In warm growing areas, plant...
French Marigold Seeds - Bonanza Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Bonanza Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Bonanza Series French marigold seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their hardiness and...
Bean Seeds - Bush - California Black-Eye Cowpeas
75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata. California Black-Eyed Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Cowpeas, or...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Mini Bell Red
60-69 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Mini Bell Red Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, sweet with no heat level. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Honey Select Hybrid
80 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Honey Select Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, AAS winner, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Red Noodle Yard Long
50-75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. Red Noodle Yard Long Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
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