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]()
Bean - Broad Windsor Fava - Cover Crop Seeds
80-90 Days. Vicia faba. Annual. Cover Crop. Heirloom. Non-GMO Broad Windsor fava bean seeds grow one of the most beneficial heirloom cover crops available to the home gardener. Popularly sown...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Strike
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Strike Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, snap, green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Tobacco Seeds - Burley 21
~65–70 Days from transplant to maturity. Nicotiana tabacum. Burley 21 Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Lentil - Green (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
2-3 Days to Harvest. Lens culinaris. Organic Green Lentil Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. Non-GMO Organic green lentil sprouting seeds is a simple and delicious way to enhance...
Cabbage Seeds - Late Flat Dutch
100 days. The Late Flat Dutch cabbage produces large, pale green heads. It is a hardy garden crop that can be grown in climate zones one through ten. After around...
Cilantro Seeds - Leisure Splits (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic 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...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Roma II
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Roma II Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, AAS winner, high-yielding, heat-tolerant, bush, snap, romano, green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Freckles
50-70 days. These non-GMO Freckles lettuce seeds grow into green leaves of lettuce with red spots that are ready to harvest in 50 to 70 days. The Freckles thrives in...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Ruby Red
55 days. This plant produces good yields of dark green shiny leaves with ruby red stalks and veins. Both the stems and the leaves xcellent for salads and steamed with...
Zinnia Seeds - Lilliput Mixture
54-70 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Lilliput Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Lilliput Mixture Zinnia Flowers are easy to grow from seeds and ideal for hot and drought-prone gardens....
Thyme Seeds - Winter
95 Days to maturity. Thymus vulgaris. Winter Thyme Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Common Thyme, German Thyme, English...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Hearts of Gold
80-90 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Kale Seeds - Premier
60 days. Premier Kale is a high yielding variety high in nutrients. This crop is leafy and green in color. Premier Kale is versatile and can be used for kale...
Cabbage Seeds - Savoy Perfection
90 days. The Savoy Perfection cabbage is a unique variety that doesn't produce the sulfur-like smell that other varieties of cabbage do when they are cooked. It is a hardy...
Tomatillo Seeds - Toma Verde
70 days. Physalis ixocarpa. Toma Verde Tomatillo Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for containers, garden plots, raised beds, and fields. Early, prolific green tomatillo with flat-round...
Chia (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds
8-12 days. Chia is easy to grow and is favored for its health benefits, including high levels of omega oils, amino acids and proteins. Harvest close to the root for...
Tobacco Seeds - Havana 608
~65 Days from transplant to maturity. Nicotiana tabacum. Havana 608 Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Gazania Seeds - New Day Series
84-91 Days to maturity. Gazania splendens. Gazania New Day Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. New Day Series gazania seeds grow some of the most recognizable summertime blooms both indoors and out!...
Pumpkin Seeds - Connecticut Field
Connecticut Field Pumpkin is an heirloom pumpkin that has been around since colonial time. It was first grown by Native Americans in New England. This is the pumpkin to grow...
Petunia Seeds - Double Cascade Series (Pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Pelleted Double Cascade Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Growing Double Cascade Series seeds promise to excite your garden with...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Yellow Pear
78 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Yellow Pear Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Salad Bowl Green
45-50 days. An AAS winner, these non-GMO Salad Bowl Green seeds grow into green leaves of lettuce that are ready to harvest in 45 to 50 days. The Salad Bowl...
Cucumber Seeds - Sweet Success Hybrid
60 days. The Sweet Success Hybrid cucumber is a large variety of cucumber that is sweet and tender. The Sweet Success Hybrid is dark green and smooth, and grows to...
Zinnia Seeds - Zahara Series (Coated)
50-60 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. Zahara Series Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Zahara Series Zinnia flower seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their hardiness and ability to...
Cabbage Seeds - Early Round Dutch
Brassica oleracea (75 days) Also called "Round Dutch Cabbage" Early round Dutch has solid uniform, oval heads that weigh 2-5 lbs. Small, short-stemmed, short core, good wrapper leaves and slow...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Oakleaf
Non-GMO Oakleaf lettuce is ready 55-65 days. Utah State University recommends this lettuce strain. The Oakleaf can tolerate colder temperatures. The leaves of the Oakleaf have a mildly sweet flavor,...
Red Cabbage Microgreens Seeds
Red Cabbage Microgreens Seeds. Fast and easy to grow cabbage micro greens seeds with whitish stems and green cotyledons with red to purple highlights. Premium seeds with high germination rates....
Achillea Seeds - Golden Yarrow
2nd year maturity. Achillea filipendulina. Golden Yarrow Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for garden plots, raised beds, and ornamental borders. Golden Yarrow (Cloth of Gold) is...
Einkorn Grain Seeds (Organic)
Domesticated Einkorn Grain Seeds. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth. Triticum monococcum. Non-GMO, Heirloom. Widely agreed to be the oldest known wheat, Einkorn is thought to be the first grain ever...
Cucumber Seeds, Japanese - Progress - Hybrid
50-60 Days to Maturity.Cucumis sativus Progress Japanese Cucumber Seeds F1. Hybrid. Non-GMO. Annual. Non-GMO. This Japanese cucumber has glossy, green, smooth skin and is crisp and very tasty. This is...
Spinach Seeds - Red Malabar
70 days. Basella rubra. Red Malabar Spinach Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for trellised garden plots, raised beds, and large containers. Red Malabar is a...
Onion Seeds - Long - Ruby
100 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Ruby Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Ruby...
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