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]()
Sunflower Seeds - Italian White
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus debilis. Italian White Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Italian White sunflower seeds grow some of summer's most elegant, classic, and vigorous blooms....
Artichoke Seeds - Purple Italian Globe
120 days. Perennial, Non-GMO, Heirloom Seeds. This heirloom Artichoke from Italy produces purple-headed fruits measuring from 3 to 6 inches across. These artichokes are a beautiful purple shade that will...
Calendula Seeds - Bon Bon Series
91-98 Days to maturity. Calendula officinalis. Bon Bon Series Calendula Seeds. Non-GMO, Ornamental, Annual. Bon Bon Series seeds grow one of the most celebrated, lush, and brilliant blooms of any...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Sunbright
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Sunbright Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Lavender Seeds - Hidcote Blue
100+ Days to maturity. Lavandula angustifolia. Hidcote Blue Lavender Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Experience the classic beauty and sweet...
Lettuce Seeds, Crisphead - Webbs Wonderful
Non-GMO Webbs Wonderful Crisphead is an English lettuce that does well in the heat. Very large and robust heads with crumpled leaves, Webbs Wonderful has a fine distinct flavor and...
Pumpkin Seeds - Small Sugar - Organic
Cucurbita (95 days) Sometimes called New England Pie Pumpkin. The long time favorite and standard for pies. None grows any sweeter. Fruits small, 6-8 lbs; round, flattened at the ends...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Juliet Hybrid
60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Juliet Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, AAS Winner, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate grape tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Bodacious R/M Hybrid
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Bodacious R/M Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Asparagus Seeds - UC 72
2-3 years, perennial.Non-GMO, open pollinated. The UC 72 Asparagus variety was created to be tolerant to drought and Fusarium Wilt. Plants produce large yields after being in the ground for...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Black Turtle (Organic)
75-100 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Black Turtle Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Mustard Seeds - Osaka Purple
21 to 45 days. An outstanding mustard of dark green-purple leaves with bright white veins. Harvest at 4 to 6 inches for salad or allow it to grow to full...
Cucumber Seeds - Pickling - Wisconsin SMR
55-58 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Wisconsin SMR-58 Pickling Cucumber Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Hungarian Yellow Wax
58 to 85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Pepper, Hot - Hungarian Hot Wax - Organic Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant,...
Cucumber Seeds - National Pickling
50-70 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. National Pickling Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Eggplant Seeds - Purple Shine - Hybrid
65 days to maturity after transplant. Solanum melongena ’Purple Shine’. Purple Shine Eggplant Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This is a popular Chinese type eggplant variety. Fruits are firm and...
Radish Seeds - Lady Slipper
Non-GMO Heirloom Lady Slipper Radish is ready in 28 days. Beautiful soft-pink radish has an elongated body and roots. This radish has a smooth appearance and a crisp, mild, sweet...
Eggplant Seeds - Little Finger Purple
Solanum melongena (68 days) Little Fingers grow in clusters that almost look like hands. They grow in clusters of 3-5 purple, slim fruits. ~7,850 seeds/oz. Eggplant Seeds - Little Finger...
Lettuce Seeds - Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce Seeds. 55-60 Days. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Lactuca sativa. Highly productive, dwarfed bibb lettuce that is quick to mature no bigger than a baseball or tennis ball, the...
Alyssum Seeds - Carpet of Snow
56-63 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Carpet of Snow Alyssum Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Open-pollinated, seeds. Carpet of Snow Alyssum flower seeds grow one of the most familiar and beloved...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Sugar Buns Hybrid
70-80 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Sugar Buns Hybrid (treated) Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
Carrot Seeds - Kuroda Long 8"
The Kuroda Long 8" carrot is a sweet Asian carrot. It is tolerable to multiple climates, and grows best with some shade. Seeds should be planted in fertile loose soil....
French Marigold Seeds - Janie Series
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Janie Series Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Growing Janie Series Marigold seeds this season is an effortless and award-winning way to dash some summer...
Echinacea Seeds - White Swan
70-84 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom White Swan Echinacea Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea grows as a warm perennial native to North America. Cultivated in 1987, this...
Gourds Seeds - Small Mix
Small Gourds Mix is ready in 90-120 days. This is a collection of different shapes in shades of white, cream, gold, yellow, and green. These gourds are suitable for decoration....
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Fushimi
65 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Fushimi Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 1,000 to 2,500 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for...
Squash - Summer - Dark Green Zucchini (Organic)
Cucurbita pepo. (45-65 days) An early vigorous bush zucchini with straight, smooth, dark-green mottled fruits. Tastiest at 6-8" with pale greenish-white, firm flesh. Great for market growers and easy to...
Radish Seeds - Easter Egg Blend
Non-GMO Easter Egg Blend Radish Seeds, Heirloom. Easter Egg Blend Radish Seeds are native to regions in Asia and were grown in Europe around 5,000 years ago. Freshly eaten radishes...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Peron Sprayless
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Peron Sprayless Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, drought tolerant, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Eggplant Seeds - Long Ping Tung
Long Ping Tung Eggplant Seeds originate from Ping Tung, Taiwan. Plants are disease resistant and do well even in heat. Fruits produced are 12-18" long and 1.25" wide. They are...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Akasanjaku Yard Long
75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. Akasanjaku Yard Long Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heat-tolerant, heirloom, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Parsley Seeds - Triple Moss Curled
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Triple Moss Curled Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Triple Moss Curled...
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