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]()
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Beefsteak Indeterminate
90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Beefsteak Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. One of...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Jubilee
90-97 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Jubilee Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. These large picnic varieties can grow...
Beet Seeds - Early Wonder Tall Top
35-60 days. The Early Wonder Tall Top is an easy to grow beet that can be harvested as early as thirty five days after planting, and thrives in colder weather....
Petunia Seeds - Madness Series (pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Pelleted Madness Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Madness Series petunia seeds are an easy way to splash some early-blooming...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Red Cherry Sweet
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Red Cherry Sweet Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 0 to 100 Scoville...
Cress Seeds - Watercress
Non-GMO, Heirloom Watercress Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Nasturtium officinale. Watercress, also known as "Yellowcress" is a hardy perennial native to regions in Asia and Europe. This trailing...
Pumpkin Seeds - Jack Be Little
95 days. Cucurbita pepo. Jack Be Little Pumpkin seeds are upright, tender annuals and a favorite for miniature holiday pumpkins. Jack Be Littles produce 3-4" wide and 2" tall bright-orange...
Cilantro Seeds - Leisure Splits
Non-GMO, Heirloom Leisure Splits Cilantro Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Coriandrum sativum. Cilantro is native to regions in North Africa and West Asia. Leisure Splits Cilantro, also known...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Horizon Orange
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Horizon Orange Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet-type, with no heat levels. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in garden...
Roselle Seeds - Asian Sour Leaf (Hibiscus)
70-90 day maturity. Hibiscus sabdariffa. Asian Sour Leaf Roselle Seeds. Non-GMO, Cool-season perennial heirloom. This unique perennial can be grown as an annual in areas where it will not survive...
Oregano Seeds - Greek
Origanum vulgare hirtum Perennial. Non-GMO, Heirloom Greek Oregano Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Origanum vulgare hirtum. Greek Oregano is a perennial herb native to regions in the Mediterranean....
Chives Seeds
Non-GMO, Heirloom Chives Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Allium schoenoprasum. Chives are native to regions in Asia and Europe. This Chive cultivar is common in the U.S. and...
12 Variety Pack Microgreens Sampler
An assortment of popular, exotic, and colorful microgreens from around the world. Includes 1 oz each of: broccoli, purple radish, spicy salad mix, beet, nasturtium, cilantro, garden cress, sunflower, pak...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Sunset Italian Mix (Organic)
70-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Organic Sunset Italian Pepper Mix Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 0 to 100 Scoville...
Petunia Seeds - Daddy Series (Pelleted)
98-105 days. Daddy Series petunia seeds grow an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to any home, office, or garden. Daddy Series petunias are durable and easy to grow from seed,...
Cabbage Seeds - Red Acre (Organic)
90-110 days. Organic Red Acre Cabbage Seeds. Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Nearly a century old and still one of the most reliable performers in the garden, Red Acre...
Winter Rye - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
This is organic rye grain (Secale cereale) - not Ryegrass (Lolium). It is not for over-seeding lawns. Organic. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO Organic winter rye cover crop is one of the...
Carrot Seeds - Imperator 58
65-80 days. The Imperator 58 carrot is a colorful and crunchy addition to any home garden. Seeds produce nine inch long tapered roots with a bright orange color. Their tops...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Sweetie
65-70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Sweetie Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Widely considered...
Cucumber Seeds - Marketmore 76 (Organic)
67 days. The Marketmore 76 cucumber is a variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Marketmore 76 is dark green and smooth, and grows to be between eight...
Hyssop Seeds
Non-GMO, Heirloom Hyssop Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Hyssopus officinalis. Hyssop is a flowering perennial herb native to regions in the Middle East. Shrub-like common Hyssop plants are...
Onion - Sprouting Seeds
10-14 Days to Harvest. Allium cepa. Non-GMO Onion Sprouting Seeds. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. Onion sprout seeds are an easy and delicious way to add some quick, subtle flavor to...
Basil Seeds - Siam Queen
Non-GMO, Heirloom Siam Queen Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has many different types, Siam Queen Basil is a cultivar that originated from Southeast Asia....
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Pepperoncini Italian
65-75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Pepperoncini Italian Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 100 to 500 Scoville Heat...
Oats - Whole (Organic) - Grass Seeds
6-10 Days to maturity for juicing. Avena sativa. Organic Whole Oat Grass Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in trays, and the field or garden. This product...
Okra Seeds - Clemson Spineless (Organic)
(58 days) I'm sure you heard Grandpa or Grandma talk about Clemson Spineless if you live down South. Well, this is an improvement on that same tasty okra. Clemson Spineless,...
Alfalfa - Cover Crop Seeds
60-70 Days. Medicago sativa. Annual. Non-GMO. Cover Crop. Also known as "lucerne", non-GMO alfalfa is a year-round cover crop, widely grown for its nitrogen-replenishing benefits and fertile, all-natural springtime "green...
Zinnia Seeds - Dahlia Flowered Mixture
90-100 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Dahlia Flowered Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Growing Dahlia Flowered Mix zinnia seeds this season is an effortless and vibrant way to dash...
Radish - China Rose (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
5-6 Days to Harvest. Raphanus sativus. Organic China Rose Radish Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. Fresh, zesty, and spicy non-GMO Organic China Rose radish sprouts are a colorful...
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