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]()
Chinese Cabbage Seeds - Aichi
70 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa var Pekinensis ‘Aichi’. Aichi Chinese Cabbage Heirloom Seeds. Annual. This very old traditional, dento yasai, Chinese cabbage variety is from the Aichi Prefecture of...
Pak Choi Seeds - Hotau Hybrid
30-35 days to maturity.Brassica rapa var chinensis. Hotau Hybrid Pak Choi Chinese Cabbage Seeds. Non-GMO, warm or cool-season annual, hybrid. Mini type pak choi, 8-10cm (3-4 inches), uniform, wide and...
Gaillardia Seeds - Blanket Flower
84-91 Days to maturity. Gaillardia aristata. Gaillardia Blanket Flower Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Blanket Flower gaillardia seeds promise a vibrant and perennial touch of authentic American color in your garden. Blanket...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Progress No. 9 (Organic)
60-65 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum Organic Progress No. 9 seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Perfectly suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Bred...
Squash Seeds - Costata Romanesco Zucchini
Cucurbita pepo (52 days) A sought-after Italian heirloom grown around Rome for years. The zucchini is grey-green, has fluted edges or ribs. When cut these fluted edges give them a...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Moon & Stars Yellow Flesh
90-95 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Moon & Stars Yellow Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. First mentioned around...
Corn Seeds - Popcorn - Japanese Hulless
86 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Japanese Hulless Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Pop Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Cucumber Seeds - Lemon (Organic)
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Lemon Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing or pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots,...
Pak Choi Seeds - Joi Choi Hybrid
40-50 days to maturity.Brassica rapa var chinensis. Joi Choi Hybrid Pak Choi Chinese Cabbage Seeds. Non-GMO, warm or cool-season annual, hybrid. Growers love this hybrid pak choi for its uniformity....
Cucumber Seeds - Palace Pride - Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus ‘Palace Pride’. Palace Pride Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. Palace Pride is a sooyow variety and yields a prolific crop of fruits with...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Patio Hybrid
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Patio Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, determinate, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, AAS Winner, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Beet Seeds - Bulls Blood - Organic
55 days. Certified Organic Bull's Blood Beet Garden Seed. Bull's Blood Beet Seeds have been known to grow well in containers, flowerbed borders, and cottage gardens. Plants grow to be...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Caribbean Blend
60-69 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Caribbean Blend Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, high yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with extra hot heat levels....
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Brandywine Red Regular Leaf
80-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Brandywine Red Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, regular leaf, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - All Sweet
90-105 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. All Sweet Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. Resistant to Anthracnose (1), Fusarium...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Tendergreen
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Tendergreen Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, high-yielding, heat tolerant, bush, snap, green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Early Thorogreen Lima
69 Days to maturity. Phaseolus lunatus. Early Thorogreen Bush Lima Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, shell, lima bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Aster Seeds - Powderpuff Mix
91-105 Days to maturity. Callistephus chinensis. Powderpuff Mix Aster Seeds. Non-GMO, Ornamental, Annual. Powderpuff Mix Aster flower seeds are a tidy and vibrant addition to grow in any home or...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Fox Cherry (Organic)
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Organic Fox Cherry Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Soybean - Black (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
2-5 Days to Harvest. Glycine max L. Merr.. Organic Black soybean Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. Considered a superfood, Organic black soybean sprouting seeds quickly sprout an antioxidant-rich...
Petunia Seeds - Frost Series (Pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Frost Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Frost Series seeds grow a delightful, unique, and lively variation of the world-famous...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Canary Bell
100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Canary Bell Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
Mustard Seeds - Misome Hybrid
30 days to maturity. Brassica campestris Narinosa group. Misome Hybrid Mustard Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. A relatively recent hybrid between Komatsuna and Tatsoi, this versatile, uniform, and hardy green...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Red Beard
40-50 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Red Beard Japanese Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Cucumber Seeds - Rhinish Pickle
Non-GMO, open-pollinated Rhinish Pickle Cucumber Seeds from True Leaf Market produce heirloom pickling cucumbers with black spines and small bumps. Growing between 4" and 6" long, Rhinish pickle cucumbers are...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Light Red Kidney (Organic)
85-95 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Light Red Kidney Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Pepper Seeds, Hot - Poblano - Organic
70-79 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Poblano Organic Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic,, open-pollinated, heirloom,,, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot-type pepper with mild heat levels. 1,000...
Broccoli Seeds - Romanesco - Organic
Brassica oleracea (75 days) Romanecso reminds me of the patterns you would see when looking through a kaleidoscope as a kid. It has great spiraling designs and shades of apple-green...
Corn Seeds - Flint - Hopi Blue (Organic)
100 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Blue Hopi Organic Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, Flint and Flour Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Poblano Ancho Grande
70-79 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Ancho Grande Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual,open-pollinated, heirloom, hot-type pepper with mild heat levels. 1,000 to 2,000 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
Cucumber Seeds - Boston Pickling (Organic)
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Boston Pickling Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised...
[
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-light-red-kidney-beans-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_c6bb57a5-1f8f-4942-b005-d7b90366972b.jpg",
"price": 320,
"handle": "organic-light-red-kidney-beans",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Bush - Light Red Kidney (Organic)",
"url": "/products/organic-light-red-kidney-beans",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/chinese-cabbage-seeds-aichi-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_236ba20c-c0d2-4c6b-91ed-9ac81d4f8200.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "chinese-cabbage-seeds-aichi",
"title": "Chinese Cabbage Seeds - Aichi",
"url": "/products/chinese-cabbage-seeds-aichi",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/cabbage-seeds-pak-choi-hotau-hybrid-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "",
"price": 399,
"handle": "cabbage-seeds-pak-choi-hotau-hybrid",
"title": "Pak Choi Seeds - Hotau Hybrid",
"url": "/products/cabbage-seeds-pak-choi-hotau-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/gaillardia-blanket-flower-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-4-oz-sm_170f1ca6-3d80-496a-ba1b-d75472038a4f.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "gaillardia-blanket-flower",
"title": "Gaillardia Seeds - Blanket Flower",
"url": "/products/gaillardia-blanket-flower",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pea-progress-organic-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_48936932-766c-43f9-94ad-1a4e8a8d6bcb.jpg",
"price": 199,
"handle": "pea-progress-organic",
"title": "Pea Seeds - Shelling - Progress No. 9 (Organic)",
"url": "/products/pea-progress-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/costata-romanesco-squash-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_335f0c5d-e9e2-4018-bb3c-c8d58bc8db6c.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "costata-romanesco-squash",
"title": "Squash Seeds - Costata Romanesco Zucchini",
"url": "/products/costata-romanesco-squash",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-seeds-hot-poblano-organic-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_7180ec06-d82c-41be-a88f-e1677e518269.jpg",
"price": 379,
"handle": "pepper-seeds-hot-poblano-organic",
"title": "Pepper Seeds, Hot - Poblano - Organic",
"url": "/products/pepper-seeds-hot-poblano-organic",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/moon-stars-yellow-flesh-watermelon-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_1_c7c6af09-84a6-4527-a6fa-3066fe876cda.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "moon-stars-yellow-flesh-watermelon",
"title": "Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Moon & Stars Yellow Flesh",
"url": "/products/moon-stars-yellow-flesh-watermelon",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/1710431054_Onion-Stuttgarter-Yellow-1-comp_c0458892-77dd-4fcb-b012-fa78d50f23fd.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/onion-sets-stuttgarter-yellow-comp_1.jpg",
"price": 648,
"handle": "onion-sets-stuttgarter-yellow",
"title": "Onion Sets - Super Sweet/Stuttgarter Yellow",
"url": "/products/onion-sets-stuttgarter-yellow",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "products/brocolli-romanesco-org-com-wm.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_de55c9fd-573d-493d-81cf-433002e91c92.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-romanesco-broccoli-seed",
"title": "Broccoli Seeds - Romanesco - Organic",
"url": "/products/organic-romanesco-broccoli-seed",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Corn-Popcorn-Japanese-Hulless-Comp_1.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/Corn-Popcorn-Japanese-Hulless-Comp.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "japanese-hulless-popcorn",
"title": "Corn Seeds - Popcorn - Japanese Hulless",
"url": "/products/japanese-hulless-popcorn",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-hopi-blue-corn-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_5589e43b-0487-4407-96a3-b679c4fb90d5.jpg",
"price": 479,
"handle": "organic-hopi-blue-corn",
"title": "Corn Seeds - Flint - Hopi Blue (Organic)",
"url": "/products/organic-hopi-blue-corn",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/1696612593_Lemon-cucumber-Wood-background-sustainable-comp_6a8e8de4-1f20-439d-843b-dfa00b0e2734.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/1696612594_Lemon-cucumber-WB-sustainable_43460ef9-1278-43f8-92d0-555f3e831bdc.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-lemon-cucumber-seeds",
"title": "Cucumber Seeds - Lemon (Organic)",
"url": "/products/organic-lemon-cucumber-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/cabbage-seeds-pak-choi-joi-choi-hybrid-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_295b2949-006c-4983-81df-719534d078e4.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "cabbage-seeds-pak-choi-joi-choi-hybrid",
"title": "Pak Choi Seeds - Joi Choi Hybrid",
"url": "/products/cabbage-seeds-pak-choi-joi-choi-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/cucumber-seeds-palace-pride-hybrid-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_0a29105f-5ecb-4c58-b7a7-d82a7b5c048c.png",
"price": 199,
"handle": "cucumber-seeds-palace-pride-hybrid",
"title": "Cucumber Seeds - Palace Pride - Hybrid",
"url": "/products/cucumber-seeds-palace-pride-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "products/tomato-patio-hybrid-seed-wm_700.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_1_1_91d2ed15-719a-4258-8271-f4bbe59a72df.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "tomato-patio-hybrid-seeds",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Patio Hybrid",
"url": "/products/tomato-patio-hybrid-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-hot-ancho-grande-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-sprouting-seed_028891b9-c23d-415d-8363-145bc6997170.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "pepper-hot-ancho-grande-seeds",
"title": "Pepper Seeds - Hot - Poblano Ancho Grande",
"url": "/products/pepper-hot-ancho-grande-seeds",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/beet-seeds-bulls-blood-organic-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_3775d296-ba01-4af3-a7f8-31b7d997922c.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "beet-seeds-bulls-blood-organic",
"title": "Beet Seeds - Bulls Blood - Organic",
"url": "/products/beet-seeds-bulls-blood-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-seeds-hot-caribbean-blend-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/MVS-generic-packet-com_31b0191b-ac98-4aa5-9a97-c0722d5830d9.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "pepper-seeds-hot-caribbean-blend",
"title": "Pepper Seeds - Hot - Caribbean Blend",
"url": "/products/pepper-seeds-hot-caribbean-blend",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tomato-brandywine-red-seeds-com-wm_1222x1222_f5cc0028-3025-4c14-9b4b-8a67adcd4aa6.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-sprouting-seed_c82c2bbf-08d3-4392-850f-2b808adfe9d0.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "tomato-brandywine-red-seeds",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Brandywine Red Regular Leaf",
"url": "/products/tomato-brandywine-red-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/watermelon-seeds-all-sweet-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_1_1_1_1_114e2636-5a89-4ff9-b5ff-e751ae31a755.jpg",
"price": 329,
"handle": "watermelon-seeds-all-sweet",
"title": "Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - All Sweet",
"url": "/products/watermelon-seeds-all-sweet",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/bean-bush-tendergreen-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/MVS-generic-packet_1_c211bc1c-6344-4ef2-977c-9ff9ee3acc2e.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "bean-bush-tendergreen",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Bush - Tendergreen",
"url": "/products/bean-bush-tendergreen",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/early-thorogreen-bush-lima-bean-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-generic-packet_1_1_1_8a04d89e-d344-4cc1-b424-72c02ee3a2c2.jpg",
"price": 263,
"handle": "early-thorogreen-bush-lima-bean",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Bush - Early Thorogreen Lima",
"url": "/products/early-thorogreen-bush-lima-bean",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/aster-powderpuff-mix-flower-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-1-oz-sm_8a45a2b1-b471-49e5-8a56-0093d25a945d.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "aster-powderpuff-mix-flower-seeds",
"title": "Aster Seeds - Powderpuff Mix",
"url": "/products/aster-powderpuff-mix-flower-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tomato-fox-cherry-organic-l-com-wm_1222x1222_09bda1dc-f532-44d2-ad96-70dac8699391.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/Sustainable_1_lb.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "tomato-seeds-fox-cherry-organic",
"title": "Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Fox Cherry (Organic)",
"url": "/products/tomato-seeds-fox-cherry-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-black-soybean-sprouting-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/black-soybeans-seed-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 1056,
"handle": "organic-black-soybean-sprouting-seeds",
"title": "Soybean - Black (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds",
"url": "/products/organic-black-soybean-sprouting-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/1747758779_petunia_frost_series_velvet_comp_5e32ee14-815f-4344-ba21-68352625ddfc.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/petunia-frost-series-flower-seeds-comp.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "petunia-frost-series-flower-seeds",
"title": "Petunia Seeds - Frost Series (Pelleted)",
"url": "/products/petunia-frost-series-flower-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-sweet-canary-bell-yellow-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-sprouting-seed_a45cab07-f542-4957-b6ee-293c2dad04cb.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "pepper-sweet-canary-bell-yellow-seeds",
"title": "Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Canary Bell",
"url": "/products/pepper-sweet-canary-bell-yellow-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "products/cucumber-boston-pickling-organic-l-com-wm.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_1acb419b-5e94-4f41-b85b-d1829f9ca1c1.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "cucumber-seeds-boston-pickling-organic",
"title": "Cucumber Seeds - Boston Pickling (Organic)",
"url": "/products/cucumber-seeds-boston-pickling-organic",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/mustard-seeds-misome-hybrid-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-premium_6da1bf64-69c4-4195-9b59-19f18ed0cbef.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "mustard-seeds-misome-hybrid",
"title": "Mustard Seeds - Misome Hybrid",
"url": "/products/mustard-seeds-misome-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/onion-seeds-bunching-red-beard-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/1658875372_Red-Beard-Bunching-Onion-Japanese-roots-wm-comp.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "onion-seeds-bunching-red-beard",
"title": "Onion Seeds - Bunching - Red Beard",
"url": "/products/onion-seeds-bunching-red-beard",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/cucumber-seeds-rhinish-pickle-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_3.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "cucumber-seeds-rhinish-pickle",
"title": "Cucumber Seeds - Rhinish Pickle",
"url": "/products/cucumber-seeds-rhinish-pickle",
"available": true
}
]
