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]()
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Bhut Jolokia Ghost
120-129 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with extremely hot heat levels....
Bean Seeds - Fava (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds
Organic Sprouting Fava Beans. Vicia faba. Heirloom. Use for Microgreens, Sprouts & Vegetable Gardening. These are much smaller seeded than the traditional English broad bean. The smaller seed lends itself...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Royal Burgundy
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Royal Burgundy Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, snap bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Bean Seeds - Bush - Blue Lake (Organic)
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Blue Lake Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom snap bush bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Grand Rapids
50-60 days. These non-GMO Grand Rapids lettuce seeds grow into large green leaves that are resistant to tip burn. Grand Rapids Lettuce is ready to harvest in 55 days. The...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Evergreen White Nebuka
65-120 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Evergreen White Nebuka Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Pak Choi Seeds - Shanghai
Cabbage Seeds - Pak Choi - Shanghai. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Annual. Brassica rapa Chinensis group. 10-15 days microgreens; 20-30 days baby leaf; 45 days full maturity. Cool-season. This green stem variety...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Gold Nugget
60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Gold Nugget Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Arugula Seeds - Astro
40-60 days to maturity. Eruca sativa. Astro Arugula Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Slightly lobed, medium green leaves...
Superfood Mix - Microgreens Seeds
5-7 Days to maturity. See Attributes Tab For Latin Names. Superfood Microgreens Mix Seeds. These nutrient-packed greens bring an array of flavors to your plate. From the mild crunch of...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Tabasco
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum frutescens. Tabasco Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper hot heat levels. 30,000 to 50,000...
Gourds Seeds - Birdhouse
110+ days. Fun, easy to grow plants yield gourds that can be made into attractive hanging birdhouses or dippers. Allow fruit to mature on vine as long as possible. Approximately...
Lettuce Seeds - Super Red Romaine
Lactuca sativa (40 days) Super Red Romaine Lettuce has long crunchy spoon shaped leaves that start green and turn to an intense red. Very intense colored romaine that is highly...
African Marigold Seeds - Taishan Series
77-84 days. Taishan Series is easy to grow from seed and delivers neat and disease-tolerant marigolds ideal for gardens prone to heat, drought, and poor soils. With 20% shorter peduncles...
Mixed Greens Seeds - Mesclun Mix - Organic
A succulent blend of gourmet greens that will satisfy your pallet and is extremely healthy. This mesclun blend is the type normally served in fine restaurants, but you can grow...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Big Jim
70-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Big Jim Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with medium heat...
5 Gallon Bucket with Lid
This food grade rated 5 gallon white bucket is perfect for holding bulk food storage, hardware, paint and more! Made with 70 mil HDPE plastic, these pails are extremely durable...
Italian Dandelion Seeds
Non-GMO, Heirloom Italian (Chicory) Dandelion Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Cichorium intybus. This is a tender perennial that originates from Italy and isa type of chicory or endive....
Onion Seeds - Long - White Sweet Spanish
120 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. White Sweet Spanish Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Corn Seeds - Flour - Painted Mountain (Organic)
90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Painted Mountain Organic Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, certified organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, Flour Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds....
Celery Seeds - Tendercrisp
90-105 days. Non-GMO. Open-pollinated. Tendercrisp Celery Seeds from True Leaf Market grow a compact celery head with 12" dark green stalks. The entire Tendercrisp celery plant reaches about 26" tall...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Scarlet Runner
50-75 Days to maturity. Phaseolus coccineus. Scarlet Runner Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, AAS Winner, drought tolerant, high-yielding, pole, snap string bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Mini Pet Grass Kit
Give your cat or dog the treat of sweet green wheat grass that they crave! Giving them this nutritious green wheatgrass treat will not only make them happy but will...
Collards Seeds - Morris Heading
75-85 days. Morris Heading Collard seeds grow slightly crumpled and loose heads. These compact Collard plants have short steamed leaves, and are tolerant to both the heat and the cold....
Parsnip - Hollow Crown
Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Heirloom Hollow Crown Parsnip Seeds from True Leaf Market. 100 to 120 days. Good storage variety with a sweet taste that grows up to 15" long. Originating in...
Portulaca Seeds - Double Mix
84-91 Days to maturity. Portulaca grandiflora. Double Mix Portulaca Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Double Mix portulaca seeds promise some of the most stunning, and most convenient succulents available to home gardeners....
Onion Seeds - Short - Red Grano
112 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Red Grano Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Dill Seeds - Dukat
50 Days to maturity. Anethum graveolens. Dukat Dill Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Dukat Dill is a premium Danish...
Marshmallow Herb Seeds
60-90 Days to maturity. Althaea officinalis. Marshmallow Herb Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. A beautiful pollinator and traditional medicinal...
Dandelion Seeds - True (Wild)
Taraxacum officinale. Non-GMO, Heirloom True (Wild) Dandelion Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. True wild Dandelions grow as tender perennials native to regions in Asia and Europe. Herbaceous and...
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