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]()
Radish Seeds - Cherry Belle (Organic)
Organic Cherry Belle is a Non- Gmo heirloom variety ready in 23 days. All-American Selection (AAS) winning radish variety that produces bright red globe-shaped fruit. The flesh or cherry belle...
Bean Seeds - Bush - BeSweet Edamame Soybean
75-105 Days to maturity. Glycine max. BeSweet Edamame Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, bush, shell, soybean, high-yielding, Asian bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Squash Seeds - Winter - Waltham Butternut (Organic)
110 days to maturity. Cucurbita moschata. Organic Waltham Butternut Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated, AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. The...
Thyme Seeds - Common
2nd year maturity. Common Thyme Culinary Herb Seeds. Thymus vulgaris. Non-GMO. Popularly known as English thyme to differentiate between the many varieties, Common thyme seeds are one of the hardiest,...
Kale Seeds - Red Russian
50-60 days. Red Russian Kale Seeds. Brassica napus var. pabularia. Non-GMO. Heirloom. A popular and tenacious red variation to the ever-popular Russian kale, Red Russian grows a lighter, but still...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Emerald Giant
77 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Emerald Giant Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Resistant to...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Vegetable Spaghetti (Organic)
80-100 days. Organic Vegetable Spaghetti Winter Squash Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Grow your own pasta replacement with Organic Vegetable Spaghetti Winter squash seeds. This spaghetti squash is ready...
Echinacea - Purple Coneflower Seeds
2nd Year maturity. Echinacea purpurea. Purple Coneflower Seeds. Non-GMO, Heirloom, Perennial. Echinacea grows as a warm-season perennial and flowering herb native to Eastern North America. These wildflowers are popular, as...
Dill Seeds - Bouquet
65 Days to maturity. Anethum graveolens. Bouquet Dill Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. 3-foot plant with strongly aromatic foliage,...
Crimson Clover - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
70-90 Days. Trifolium incarnatum. Organic. Cover Crop. Non-GMO. Heirloom Organic crimson clover seeds are an ideal annual garden companion and cover crop for plants and soils deficient in nitrogen. Use...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Black Seeded Simpson
These non-GMO Black Seeded Simpson seeds grow into vibrant, green leaves of lettuce that are ready to harvest in just 40 to 49 days. The Black Seeded Simpson lettuce can...
Geranium Seeds - Pinto Premium Series
91-105 days maturity. Pelargonium x hortorum . Geranium Pinto Premium Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Ornamental. Pinto Premium Series geranium seeds promise some of the most classic yet eye-catching blooms available...
Carrot Seeds - Danvers 126 (Organic)
65-70 days. Organic Danvers 126 Carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Danvers carrot seeds is a hardy 19th century American garden heirloom grown for its rugged tolerance to...
Pak Choi Seeds - White Stem
Up to 33 days. Pak Choi is also known as Bok Choy. The plant produces large, green leaves off a thick, white stem. Leaves have a mild and peppery flavor,...
Peppermint Seeds (Organic)
Perennial herb garden seeds. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth. Non-GMO, Heirloom Peppermint Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Mentha sp. Peppermint plants are cool perennial and hybrid mints native...
Wildflower Seeds - Save the Monarchs
Save The Monarchs Seed Collection. Ornamental Flower Seeds. 100,000 seeds of 13 Varieties of Assorted Wildflower Seeds. Heirloom. Non GMO. High Germination. Save the Monarchs Seed Collection is an exclusive...
Garbanzo Bean - Organic - Sprouting Seeds
2-5 Days. Cicer arietinum. High Germination. Organic. Sprouting. Widely known as chickpea or chana, non-GMO Organic garbanzo beans are one of the most nutritious and protein-rich sprouting seeds. Ready to...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Jade
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Jade Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, rust resistant, high-yielding, bush, snap green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Pumpkin Seeds - Jack O Lantern
90-110 days. Jack O Lantern Pumpkin Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. Open Pollinated. Non-GMO. Producing bright orange 10-12 lb pumpkins a piece, Jack O Lantern pumpkins are the ideal seeds for Halloween...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Cherokee Purple (Organic)
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Pea Seeds - Snow - Oregon Sugar Pod II
65-70 days. Oregon Sugar Pod II Snow Pea Seeds. Pisum sativum. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Oregon Sugar Pod II snow pea is an American heirloom crop specifically bred for the cooler Pacific...
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - All Year Round
65-75 days. All Year Round Butterhead Lettuce Seeds. Lactuca sativa. Non-GMO. Annual. An award-winning and absolutely hardy cultivar of butter head, Buttercrunch is tender, delicious, and looks as good in...
Viola Seeds - Sorbet Series
91-98 Days to maturity. Viola cornuta. Sorbet Series Viola Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, perennial. Sorbet Series seeds grow year-round violas in your home or garden when others might...
Carrot Seeds - Rainbow Blend (Organic)
65-75 days. The Rainbow Blend Carrot is an excellent way to get lots of colors in the garden all at once! This kaleidoscope of carrots is a colorful mixture of...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Lincoln
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Lincoln Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery mildew and...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rainbow Mixture
60 days. The Rainbow Mixture Swiss Chard seed mix is a blend of different colored swiss chard varieties. The chard can grow in zones 6 and up, and the leaves...
French Marigold Seeds - Sparky Mixture
63-77 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Sparky Mixture Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Sparky Mixture French marigold seeds offer one of the most vibrant and inexpensive blooms available to the...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rainbow Mixture (Organic)
60 days. Organic Rainbow Mixture Swiss Chard seeds. Beta vulgaris var. cicla. Non-GMO. Organic Rainbow mixture swiss chard seed is the perfect variety mix for the home gardener who wants...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Table Queen Acorn
80-85 days. Table Queen Acorn Winter Squash seeds grow as warm season annuals and are part of the diverse Cucurbitaeae family. Acorn squash can be planted year round in temperate...
Cucumber Seeds - Lemon
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Lemon Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing or pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
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