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]()
Carrot Seeds - Black Nebula
Daucus carota This highly attractive open pollinated carrot variety was bred especially for the home gardener. The dark purple roots can be eaten fresh, roasted, steamed or used for dye....
Okra Seeds - Hill Country Red
60-70 days. Hill Country Red Okra Seeds. Abelmoschus esculentus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Hill Country Red okra seeds mature to 6 feet tall and is a good producer of thick green pods...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Bush Early Girl Hybrid
63 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Bush Early Girl Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, determinate, heat tolerant, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Mustard - Brown (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
5-6 Days to Harvest. Brassica juncea. Organic Brown Mustard Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. One of the spiciest and most robust sprouts available, non-GMO Organic brown mustard seeds...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Georgia Rattlesnake
Citrullus lunatus (90 days) AKA "Gypsy" and "Augusta Rattesnake" watermelon. Georgia Rattlesnake is said to have been developed in the 1830s. It has been an old Southern favorite for a...
Instant Garden Heirloom Seed Collection
Instant Garden Seed Collection is the ideal beginner's assortment. We've handpicked 15 of the easiest, most prolific annual fruits and vegetables that will have you feeling like a seasoned gardener...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Habanero Caribbean Red
110-119 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Caribbean Red Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, deer-resistant, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant hot pepper with extra-hot heat levels. 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville...
Petunia Seeds - Double Madness Series (pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Pelleted Double Madness Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Double Madness Series seeds grow a hardy and spectacular alternative to...
Pumpkin Seeds - Fairytale
Non-GMO French heirloom pumpkin is a fairytale in the garden. Ready in 125 days, this pumpkin is beautiful and excellent for baking. This is due to its fine grain flesh--...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Pink Banana Jumbo
105-115 Days to maturity. Cucurbita maxima Pink Banana Jumbo Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds, and large containers. Noted for...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Black Krim
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Black Krim Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - San Marzano Determinate (Organic)
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. San Marzano Determinate (Organic) Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, determinate, paste tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Begonia Seeds - Fibrous - Cocktail Series (Pelleted)
105-112 Days to maturity. Begonia x semperflorens. Cocktail Series Fibrous Begonia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, annual flower. Cocktail Series seeds easily grow classic and tidy begonias bursting with timeless - inch...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Minnesota Midget
65-70 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo var. reticulatus. Minnesota Midget Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tobacco Seeds - Cuban Criollo 98
~50-90 Days from transplant to maturity. Nicotiana tabacum. Cuban Criollo 98 Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Barnwood Style Planter
This rustic barnwood-style planter box measures 15 x 6.5 x 3.5 inches deep. Made from Western Red Cedar and finished with Clark's Food Safe cutting board wax with an orange...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Little Marvel
Non-GMO, Heirloom Little Marvel Pea Vegetable Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Pisum sativum. Little Marvel English Heirloom Pea Seeds came from England during the 1980s as a semi-dwarf shelling...
Lupine Seeds - Russell Strain Mixture
Sturdy, tightly-packed spikes in a wide range of bright colors including bi-color. 1 inch blooms open from top to bottom. Russell Mix Lupine Flowering Plant Seeds Lupines polyphyllus This tall,...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Slenderette
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Slenderette 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....
Cress Seeds - Watercress (Organic)
50-60 Days to maturity. Nasturtium officinale. Organic True Watercress Seeds. Non-GMO, semiaquatic perennial, heirloom. True Watercress is a delightful crop with numerous uses. This easy-to-grow herb is quick to mature...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Brandywine Pink (Organic)
90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Brandywine Pink Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, potato leaf, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Mustard Seeds - Mizuna
30 days. This japanese mustard green has dandelion-like jagged edged green leaves with a mild, sweet, earthy flavor. Mizuna grows fast and makes an excellent salad green. It can be...
Shiso Herb Seeds (Perilla) - Green
Non-GMO, Heirloom Green Shiso Perilla Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Perilla frutescens var. crispa. Green Shiso is a warm annual and beefsteak variety. Green Shiso, also known as...
The Organic Wheatgrass Growing Kit
Our flagship wheat grass growing kit. Grow & juice your own wheatgrass for pennies a day. Complete and Organic Kit to get you started growing wheatgrass within 7-10 days. Produces...
Hairy Vetch - Cover Crop Seeds
80-90 Days. Vicia villosa. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Such a vigorous annual cover crop that it is considered invasive in much of the United States, non-GMO hairy vetch is a European...
Pumpkin Seeds - Cinderella
95 to 150 days. Cinderella Pumpkin Seeds. Also known as Rouge vif D'Etampes. Kids love this antique french heirloom pumpkin. Flatter than regular pumpkins and darker of color, this is...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Hungarian Yellow Wax Sweet
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Hungarian Yellow Wax Sweet Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 0 to 500 Scoville Heat...
Grow and Store Garden Seeds 16 Variety
16 varieties of vegetable garden seeds. Specially dried and sealed for long term emergency seed storage. Shelf life up to 10 years. All varieties are stable, open-pollinated, or heirloom, strains...
Kick Mix - Organic - Sprouting Seeds
4-6 Days. Organic. Non-GMO. High Germination. One of our most celebrated signature mixes ever, the non-GMO Organic Kick Mix is a bright and invigorating seed sprouting blend meant to keep...
Parsnip Seeds - All American
All American has a sweet, tender, white and fine grained flesh that makes this a popular parsnip. The thick white roots are uniform, with smooth shoulders. All American reaches 2-3"...
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