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]()
Basil Seeds - Dwarf Greek
Non-GMO, Open-pollinated, Heirloom Dwarf Greek Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has many different varieties, Dwarf Greek Basil Herb is one of the smaller, ancient...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Tenderette Green
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Tenderette Green Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom snap bush bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. The...
African Marigold Seeds - Discovery Series
77-84 Days to maturity. Tagetes erecta. Discovery Series African Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid. Discovery Series African marigold seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any...
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Late Jade - Hybrid
60-70 days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var alboglabra ‘Late Jade’. Late Jade Chinese Broccoli Seeds. Non-GMO, Hybrid, Cool-season Annual. Originating in the Mediterranian, Chinese Broccoli was introduced to China in...
Japanese Mugwort - Yomogi
45 Days to maturity. Artemisia princeps. Yomogi Japanese Mugwort Seeds. Non-GMO perennial heirloom. Yomogi, or Japanese Mugwort, is an easy-to-grow perennial herb that grows in almost any condition. It is...
Beet Seeds - Red Ace Hybrid
50 days. The Red Ace beet is a variety that is highly adaptable and that can grow in cooler temperatures. The Red Ace matures a week before many other beets,...
Lettuce Seeds - Tom Thumb - Organic
Lactuca sativa (50 days) Introduced some time in the 1850s. Small, round head with delicate leaves. About the size of a baseball. Perfect for one-person salad. Can be planted close...
Carrot Seeds - Solar Yellow - Organic
Daucus Carrota (60 days) Yellow carrots have been around for a long time. As far as researchers can document, they originated in the Middle East sometime in the 900s. Now...
Echinacea Seeds - PowWow Wild Berry
70-84 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom PowWow Wild Berry Echinacea Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea grows as a warm perennial herb native to North America. These vigorous...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Dixie Queen
80 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Dixie Queen Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. The Dixie Queen watermelon is popular in the southern United States....
Zinnia Seeds - Dreamland Mixture (Coated)
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Dreamland Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Dreamland Mix Zinnia Flower seeds are the fastest way to splash some excitement into your garden. Dreamland...
Columbine Seeds - Colorado Blue
2nd-year maturity. Aquilegia coerulea. Columbine Colorado Blue Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Colorado Blue columbine seeds grow a spectacular favorite that promises an authentic slice of the Rocky Mountains...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Topcrop
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Topcrop Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, high-yielding, bush, snap, green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds,...
Rosemary Seeds (Organic)
120-180 Days to maturity. Salvia rosmarinus. Organic Rosemary Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, perennial herb. Rosemary is a popular culinary aromatic herb that can be grown in garden plots and...
Onion - Long - Southport White Globe 404
70-110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Southport White Globe Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds....
Cauliflower Seeds - Veronica Romanesco Hybrid
77 days. This "Italian" type produces very symmetrical and spiraled, lime green heads with tightly beaded, pointed domes. Useful raw, cooked, or pickled, with a milder, sweeter flavor than standard...
Eggplant Seeds - Japanese Pickling
Japanese Pickling Eggplant Seeds. 65 days to maturity. Heirloom, Annual. Can be grown in containers. Solanum melongena. These purple slender, slightly curved eggplants, are full of flavors as they are...
Cucumber Seeds - Bush Crop
55 days. Bush Crop is an excellent variety for small gardens. This plant produces 6 to 8 inch, slightly tapered fruits on a dwarf vine. A very productive plant, Bush...
Lobelia Seeds - Regatta Series (MSP)
77-84 Days to maturity. Lobelia erinus. Regatta Series Lobelia Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Open Pollinated. Regatta Series seeds promise exotic, radiant, and fragrant lobelia mounds that promise...
Lupine Seeds - Texas Blue Bonnet
91-98 Days to maturity. Lupinus texensis’Texas Blue Bonnet’. Lupine Texas Blue Bonnet Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Texas Bluebonnet lupine seeds grow an old-fashioned favorite that promise to deliver a slice of...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Ambrosia Hybrid (treated)
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Ambrosia Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone regions....
Calendula Seeds - Fancy Mix
50-70 Days to maturity. Calendula officinalis. Fancy Mix Calendula Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual, ornamental herb and flower. Fancy Mix Calendulas are hardy, tolerant of cool temperatures, and produce some strikingly...
Gourds Seeds - Turks Turban
Non-GMO Turks Turban is ready in 100+ days. Brightly colored ornamental squash has large, flattened fruits measuring 8 to 10 inches across. This gourd is striped with scarlet, white, orange,...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Ishikura Winter Long
40-60 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Ishikura Winter Long Japanese Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold hardy, bunching onions. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Fordhook 242 Lima
72 Days to maturity. Phaseolus lunatus. Fordhook 242 Bush Lima Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, high-yielding, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, bush, shell, lima bean. Suitable for growing in containers,...
Lobelia Seeds - Sapphire
77-84 Days to maturity. Lobelia erinus. Sapphire Lobelia Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Open Pollinated. Sapphire lobelia seeds grow one of summer's most exciting bedding, trailing, and hanging...
Cucumber Seeds - Japanese Long
The Japanese Long cucumber plant produces productive yields of 18-20 inches long fruits. Cucumbers are dark green and burpless with few seeds. They are best when harvested prematurely at 12...
Carrot Seeds - Cosmic Purple - Organic
(58 days) Purple on the outside and bright orange on the inside, these carrots are a real show stopper! Have trouble getting the kids to eat carrots? Cosmic Purple to...
Broccoli Seeds - Early Purple Sprouting
Brassica oleracea var. italica (59 days) Purple sprouting broccoli is an old English type broccoli. Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli is not only a colorful addition to salads, but it is...
Catmint Seeds - Blue Moon
60-80 Days to maturity. Nepeta nervosa. Blue Moon Cat Mint Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, perennial. This heat-tolerant flowering herb is just the versatile plant that your garden needs!...
Salsify Seeds - Sandwich Island
Sandwich Island Salsify is a root vegetable that you won't find in the grocery store. Also referred to as an oyster plant, it is a plant that tastes like an...
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