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]()
Cucumber Seeds - Parisian Gherkin F1 AAS
50 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Parisian Gherkin Hybrid Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, 2015 Regional AAS winning, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support),...
Basil Seeds - Dark Opal
Non-GMO, Heirloom Dark Opal Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum x purpurascens. As basil has many different varieties, Dark Opal Basil Herb is a striking heirloom that...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Honeybaby Hybrid
90 to 100 days to maturity. Cucurbita moschata. Honeybaby Hybrid Butternut Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, AAS winner 2017. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds,...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Giant Marconi Hybrid
72 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Giant Marconi Hybrid Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, 2001 AAS winner, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Hungarian Yellow Wax (Organic)
58 to 85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Pepper, Hot - Hungarian Yellow Wax - Organic Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Scotch Bonnet Orange
100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Orange Scotch Bonnet Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, deer-resistant hot pepper with extra hot heat levels. 100,000-200,000 Scoville Heat Units....
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Pasilla Bajio
80-89 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Pasilla Bajio Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, hot-type pepper with mild heat levels. 1,000 to 2,500 Scoville Heat Units....
Squash Seeds - Summer - Zucchini Greyzinni Hybrid
50 days. High-yielding, 5 to 6 inch, attractive heavily striped, light green-grey zucchini with fine eating quality and creamy, sweet flavor. These somewhat blocky fruits have a slight taper. Open-spaced...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Marianna's Peace
75-85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Marianna's Peace Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Cucumber Seeds - Green Light - Hybrid
35-45 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Green Light F1 Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. Green Light is an excellent mini cucumber that is an All-American Selection winner. The plants...
Radish Seeds - Golden Helios
Golden Helios Radish Seeds. 26 days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Heirloom, Annual. Radish Helios was named after the Greek god of the sun. This olive-shaped radish is bright yellow with...
Melon Seeds - Japanese - Ichiba Kouji Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Ichiba Kouji Japanese Hybrid Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, Asian Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Chadwick Cherry (Organic)
70 to 90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Tomato - Chadwick Cherry Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots,...
Sunflower Seeds - ProCut®
50-65 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. ProCut F1 Hybrid Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Ornamental. Annual. ProCut sunflower series seeds grow some of summer's most astonishing, vigorous, and timeless blooms. ProCut sunflower...
Beet Seeds - Crosby Egyptian - Organic
Beta vulgaris. (60 days) Egyptian type beets were created in the 1860s by the Germans. The Crosby strain was selected by Josiah Crosby of Arlington, Massachusetts and introduced by The...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Birdseye Chili
120-129 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Birdseye Chili Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, hot pepper with hot heat levels. 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Heat Units....
Squash Seeds - Winter - Delicata Bush AAS
Delicata Bush AAS Winter Squash Seeds. 80 - 100 days to maturity. 2002 National AAS Winner. Can be grown in containers. Cucurbita pepo. Annual. Heirloom. Healthy semi-bush 3-4 ft. vines,...
Endive Seeds - Green Curled Ruffec
95 days. Recommended by Utah State University, non-GMO Green Curled Ruffec Endive seeds are hardy and tolerant of cold and wet weather. Endive is a crop regarded as being easy...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Caribe
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Caribe Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Sunflower Seeds - Lemon Queen
80-100 Days to maturity. Helianthus annus. Lemon Queen Sunflower Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom, annual, multi-branching sunflower. This bright sunflower features light, lemony petals and a light brown center that demands...
Cucumber Seeds - Saladmore Bush Hybrid F1
55 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Saladmore Bush Hybrid Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, 2014 AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Alyssum Seeds - Easter Bonnet Series (Raw or MSP)
63-77 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Easter Bonnet Series Alyssum Multi-seed Pelleted Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Open-pollinated, multi-pelleted seeds. Easter Bonnet Series Alyssum seeds promise delicate and early spring blooms...
Mustard - Tat Soi - Black Knight
Tat Soi - Black Knight Mustard Seeds. 45 - 55 days to maturity. Heirloom, Annual. Can be grown in containers. Can be grown as microgreens. Brassica rapa. A dark green...
Cucumber Seeds - Suyo Long (Organic)
60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Suyo Long Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, parthenocarpic, slicing, burpless, Asian cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden...
Lettuce Seeds - Batavian, Great Lakes 118
80 - 90 days. These non-GMO Great Lakes 118 lettuce seeds grow into large green leaves and a white heart. Great Lakes 118 Lettuce, also known as Head Lettuce, is...
Endive Seeds - Broadleaf Batavian
85 days. Escarole type. Broad, slightly twisted outer leaves form around 12 to 16 inch, tight-packed heads. Very deep heart is well blanched, creamy-white, and buttery. Approx. 16,830 seeds/oz. Download...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Orange
55 days. Orange Swiss Chard is a great ornamental vegetable. Don't just plant it in the garden, add some in the landscaping. These bright orange stalks will spice up any...
Radish Seeds - Chinese - Starburst - Hybrid
60 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Starburst Chinese Radish Hybrid Seeds. Cool Season Annual. Starburst radishes are part of the watermelon radish group, which means that you’ll find bright red...
Fennel Seeds - Bronze
Non-GMO, Heirloom Bronze Fennel Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Foeniculum vulgare purpureum. Bronze Fennel is a cool perennial that's been used as medicine dating back to Ancient Egypt....
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Chiltepin
100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum. Chiltepin Hot Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with hot heat levels. 50,000-100,000...
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