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]()
Eggplant Seeds - Black Beauty
74 days. The Black Beauty variety of eggplant is ideal for eggplant parmesan or stuffed eggplant dishes. The Black Beauty reaches maturity in seventy four days and is suitable for...
Basil Seeds - Genovese
60-90 days. Genovese basil seeds. Ocimum basilicum. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Genovese is a sweet basil heirloom native to the Italian provinces of Genoa, Savona, and Imperia; while locals are decided...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Jalapeno Early
60-83 Days to maturity (from transplant). Non-GMO, Early Jalapeno Pepper Seeds from True Leaf Market grow 3" hot peppers that can be harvested when they're either dark green or bright...
Cucumber Seeds - Tendergreen Burpless
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Tendergreen Burpless Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, burpless, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Carrot Seeds - Parisian
60 days. Parisian Carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. The Parisian Carrot is unique in both its shape and ability to grow in difficult soils. This carrot variety...
Chives Seeds (Organic)
60 days. Organic Chives Culinary Herb Seeds. Allium schoenoprasum. Perennial. Non-GMO. A member of the onion family along with garlic and leeks, Organic chives are a smaller, more tubular relative...
Sunflower Seeds - Mammoth Grey Stripe
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Mammoth Grey Stripe Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Mammoth sunflower seeds grow one of the tallest, brightest, and most breathtaking flowers in...
Collards Seeds - Georgia Southern
70 days. Georgia Southern Collard seeds grow cabbage like dark green leaves, with a slightly crumpled texture. These collard leaves are huge and juicy, making them excellent for salads and...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Kentucky Blue
50-75 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Kentucky Blue Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, high-yielding, AAS Winner, drought and heat tolerant, high-yielding, pole, snap string bean. Suitable for growing in containers,...
Buckwheat - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
70-90 Days. Fagopyrum esculentum. Organic. Cover Crop. Heirloom. Non-GMO Organic buckwheat seeds grow an ancient foraging crop that, until recently, wasn't grown for much more than livestock fodder. Open-pollinated Organic...
White Dutch Clover - Cover Crop Seeds
70-90 Days. Trifolium repens. Non-GMO. Cover Crop. Perennial. Open-pollinated White Dutch clover seeds produce a cover crop for gardens lacking in nitrogen and productivity. Non-GMO White Dutch clover seeds quickly...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Yolo Wonder L
75-80 days. Yolo Wonder L Sweet Pepper Seeds. Capsicum annuum. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Classic bell pepper shape, size, and flavor, Yolo Wonder L sweet pepper seeds are a summer favorite both...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Super Sugar Snap
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Super Sugar Snap Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery mildew...
Calendula Seeds - Pacific Beauty Mixture
98-105 Days to maturity. Calendula officinalis. Pacific Beauty Mixture Calendula Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-pollinated. Annual. Pacific Beauty Mix calendula seeds are a tidy and vibrant addition to grow in any home...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Little Gem
Non-GMO, Heirloom Little Gem Lettuce Seeds from True Leaf Market. These little treasures grow into small, green heads of lettuce that are ready to harvest in approximately 70 days. The...
Onion Seeds - Short - Red Creole
110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Creole Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Resistant to...
Begonia Seeds - Tuberous - Nonstop Series (Pelleted)
119-133 Days to maturity. Begonia x tuberhybrida. Nonstop Series Tuberous Begonia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, perennial, pelleted. Nonstop Series pelleted seeds promise exotic, easygoing 2-3-inch, mostly double blooms for hot, humid...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Cayenne Long Slim
70-79 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Cayenne Long Slim Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with hot heat levels. 30,000...
Carrot Seeds - Scarlet Nantes
70 days. Scarlet Nantes carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. One of the most popular and widespread varieties of carrot ever, Scarlet Nantes has since been the original parent...
Beet - Microgreens Seeds
12-23 days. Beet microgreens have beautiful variegated stems and leaves with an earthy, almost sweet flavor. Beet microgreens are easy to grow from seed in soil. Hydroponic mediums aren't suitable...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Ambrosia Hybrid
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....
Arugula Seeds - Slow Bolt
40-45 days. Eruca vesicaria sativa. Non-GMO. Herb. Annual. Non-GMO Slow Bolt arugula seeds are one of the fastest-growing crops available to home gardeners and, since they are slower to bolt,...
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...
Onion Seeds - Long - Walla Walla (Organic)
90-110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Organic Walla Walla Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised...
Catnip Seeds
Up to 85 days. Foliage is greenish-gray with small blue flowers. Dried leaves can be used for tea and as a stimulant for cats. Small bilabiate blooms can be white,...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Cherokee Purple
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses....
Cucumber Seeds - Diva Hybrid
58 days. The Diva Hybrid cucumber is an early variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Diva Hybrid is dark and semi glossy, and grows to be between...
Lettuce Seeds - Crisphead - Iceberg
70-79 days. These non-GMO Iceberg seeds grow into green heads of lettuce that are ready to harvest in 70 to 79 days. The Iceberg lettuce is one of the most...
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