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.
50
100
true
//store.trueleafmarket.com/cdn/shop/t/54/assets/review-fallback.json?v=33078429469613971781712858278
![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Broccoli Seeds - Di Cicco
Brassica oleracea (50-70 days) Di Cicco is an Italian heirloom broccoli dating from 1890. Di Cicco broccoli is very vigorous, emerald green, producing nice central heads 3-5" wide. Approx. 9,000...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Silver King Hybrid
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Silver King Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Asparagus Seeds - UC 157 F2
2-3 years to first harvest. Non-GMO, perennial, F2 Hybrid asparagus seeds. UC 157 F2 Hybrid Asparagus Seeds. This variety was developed at the University of California, Riverside in 1978 by...
Cauliflower Seeds - Cheddar Hybrid
70-75 days. This beautiful orange cauliflower boasts uniform, smooth, firm heads. Leave heads untied for maximum color intensity. Roasting enhances the flavor of cheddar cauliflower. In warm growing areas, plant...
Deluxe Sprout Growing Kit
The ultimate sprouting starter kit for those interested in a serious approch to sprouts. Makes more than 100 pounds of sprouts! Includes a 3 tray stackable sprouter, instructions and an...
Broccoli Seeds - Destiny Hybrid
70 to 75 days. Annual. Non-GMO Hybrid seeds. The Destiny Hybrid is a popular variety of the broccoli garden crop to grow. Destiny Hybrid seeds are more tolerant to heat...
Hard Red Winter Wheat (Organic) - Bulk Grains
Triticum aestivum. 2-3 days for wheat berry sprouts, 7-10 days for wheatgrass. This hard red winter wheat is our top choice for growing wheatgrass, it has a wonderful flavor and...
Grow and Store Garden Seeds 21 Variety
21 varieties of vegetable garden seeds. Specially dried and sealed for long term emergency seed storage. Shelf life up to 10 years. Seeds should be a key component of any...
Turnip Seeds - White Egg
Brassica rapa (45-55 days) AKA "Early White Egg" or "Snowball". White egg turnip is a long time favorite in the South where it is know for its reliability and fine...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Tendersweet Orange
Citrullus lanatus (90 days) Yummalicious orange, crisp, sweet, watermelon that is not only colorful, but also intensely tasty. Watermelon Seeds - Tendersweet Orange This is the standard for orange fleshed...
The True Leaf Market Vegetable Growing Guide
Get the True Leaf Market Vegetable Planting Guide! The PDF version is free, just click below to download, or purchase the print booklet with FREE shipping. In this booklet, you'll...
Coleus Seeds - Wizard Series (Pelleted)
84-91 Days to maturity. Plectranthus scutellarioides’Wizard Series’. Coleus Wizard Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Wizard Series coleus seeds are a simple, compact, yet spectacular Asian showstopper perfect for many diverse gardens...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Warrior AAS
60 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Warrior Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, AAS Regional winner (Southeast, Mountain/Southwest), bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Beet - Rainbow Blend - Microgreen Seeds
12 to 23 Days to Harvest. Beta vulgaris. Rainbow Blend Beet Microgreen Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom. This colorful blend combines multiple beet varieties to produce a tray of microgreens with...
Corn Seeds - Ornamental - Indian
100-110 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Ornamental - Indian Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Flint Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Mini Bell Red
60-69 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Mini Bell Red Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, sweet with no heat level. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Bean Seeds - Bush - California Black-Eye Cowpeas
75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata. California Black-Eyed Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Cowpeas, or...
French Marigold Seeds - Bonanza Series (Coated)
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Bonanza Series French Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Bonanza Series French marigold seeds are brilliant, easy to grow, and renowned for their hardiness and...
Cover Crop Inoculant - Alfalfa and Clover (Organic)
Mountain Valley Seed Company cover crop seed inoculant is a reliable, safe powder inoculant containing Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii, the nitrogen-fixing bacteria specific to alfalfa and clover...
Amaranthus Seeds - Elephant Head (Organic)
Amaranthus sp. One gram will sow 45 feet at (thinned) spacing of 12-18" on 24" rows. Organic Elephant Head Amaranth 75 days to harvest. The elongated, dense, flower spike of...
Seed Assortment: Basic Dozen Microgreens
A basic assortment of microgreens seeds. Experiment with some variety in your microgreens salads and garnishes. A nice mix of inexpensive and more expensive seeds. Includes Amaranth, Basil, Radish, Kale,...
Mustard Seeds - Tatsoi
50 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Tatsoi Mustard Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa. Tatsoi Mustard or "Spoon Mustard" comes from China and gained tradition as a...
Buckwheat Groats (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
1-3 Days to Harvest. Fagopyrum esculentum. Organic Buckwheat Groats Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. Excellent Germination Rate. Organic buckwheat groats (hulled, shell removed) can be a somewhat challenging grain to...
Alyssum Seeds - Royal Carpet
56-63 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Royal Carpet Alyssum Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Open-pollinated seeds. Royal Carpet Alyssum flower seeds are an essential fragrant and award-winning plant whether kept in...
All Perennial Flower Seeds Mix
50-65 Days to maturity. All Perennial Mix Wildflower Seeds. Non-GMO perennials. Custom blended wildflower mix full of exclusively gorgeous perennials! This mixture is for ornamental landscaping. These plants can be...
Digitalis (Foxglove) Seeds - Mixed Color
2nd-year maturity. Digitalis purpurea. Digitalis Mixed Color Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Mixed Color foxglove seeds grow classic and delicate blooms where other flowers would wither. Mixed Color seeds deliver compact 12-18"...
Onion Seeds - Short - Yellow Granex PRR Hybrid
110-160 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Yellow Granex PRR Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, cold tolerant, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Lettuce Seeds - Jericho
(26 days for baby greens, 56 days for full size) Jericho Lettuce Seeds. Silky smooth neon green romaine leaves reach for the sky in this amazing lettuce with origins in...
Kohlrabi Seeds - Purple Vienna (Organic)
50-55 days. Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes. Organic Purple Vienna Kohlrabi Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, heirloom, open-pollinated. This crop is suitable for containers, garden plots, raised beds, and fields. Classic purple-skinned...
[
{
"featured_image": "files/corn-popcorn-robust-yellow-hulles-hybrid-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_5df6c169-c120-48fa-aade-83fb24b9ce5d.png",
"price": 429,
"handle": "corn-popcorn-robust-yellow-hulless-hybrid",
"title": "Corn Seeds - Popcorn - Robust Yellow Hulless Hybrid",
"url": "/products/corn-popcorn-robust-yellow-hulless-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Broccoli-Seeds-Di-Cicco-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_86a7df39-b6ab-4aad-afb1-e5896bd0b9ec.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "di-cicco-broccoli",
"title": "Broccoli Seeds - Di Cicco",
"url": "/products/di-cicco-broccoli",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/corn-se-silver-king-hybrid-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_4599064f-fabe-4003-92e3-445e7f7ad282.png",
"price": 439,
"handle": "corn-se-silver-king-hybrid",
"title": "Corn Seeds - Sweet - Silver King Hybrid",
"url": "/products/corn-se-silver-king-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/asparagus-uc-157-f2-wm_700_1222x1222_d6300f7a-00b7-4978-baa9-f45afb3cb5c7.jpg",
"secondary_image": "",
"price": 299,
"handle": "asparagus-seeds-uc-157-f2",
"title": "Asparagus Seeds - UC 157 F2",
"url": "/products/asparagus-seeds-uc-157-f2",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/cauliflower-cheddar-hybrid-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_b0008d1d-306b-4b99-afa9-7d36de059c8b.png",
"price": 519,
"handle": "cauliflower-cheddar-hybrid",
"title": "Cauliflower Seeds - Cheddar Hybrid",
"url": "/products/cauliflower-cheddar-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Handy_Pantry_-_Deluxe_Beginners_Dozen_Kit_1.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/sprouter-and-grown-sprouts-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 14197,
"handle": "deluxe-sprout-growing-kit",
"title": "Deluxe Sprout Growing Kit",
"url": "/products/deluxe-sprout-growing-kit",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/broccoli-destiny-hybrid-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_09cf96d8-65d2-49a5-ad34-0ae67efec2b6.png",
"price": 399,
"handle": "broccoli-destiny-hybrid",
"title": "Broccoli Seeds - Destiny Hybrid",
"url": "/products/broccoli-destiny-hybrid",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Hard-Red-Winter-Wheat-Organic-Bulk-Grains-Foods-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/8-oz-hard-red-wheat-seed-wm_700_66d7eed8-97c1-4e31-8234-b57d8ac704e7.jpg",
"price": 798,
"handle": "chard-red-winter-wheat-organic-bulk-grains-foods",
"title": "Hard Red Winter Wheat (Organic) - Bulk Grains",
"url": "/products/chard-red-winter-wheat-organic-bulk-grains-foods",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Grow-and-Store-Garden-Seeds-21-Variety-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/grow-and-store-bounty-wm.jpg",
"price": 9372,
"handle": "grow-and-store-garden-seeds-21-variety",
"title": "Grow and Store Garden Seeds 21 Variety",
"url": "/products/grow-and-store-garden-seeds-21-variety",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/white-egg-turnip-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "white-egg-turnip",
"title": "Turnip Seeds - White Egg",
"url": "/products/white-egg-turnip",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/tendersweet-orange-watermelon-seed-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_444c390f-8f6f-4fed-8367-98ca7d43b354.jpg",
"price": 199,
"handle": "tendersweet-orange-watermelon-seed",
"title": "Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Tendersweet Orange",
"url": "/products/tendersweet-orange-watermelon-seed",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/vegetable-grow-guide-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/veggie-book-sm.jpg",
"price": 500,
"handle": "vegetable-grow-guide",
"title": "The True Leaf Market Vegetable Growing Guide",
"url": "/products/vegetable-grow-guide",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Coleus-Wizard-Series-Mix-Pelleted-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/coleus-wizard-series-flower-seeds-comp.jpg",
"price": 339,
"handle": "coleus-wizard-series-flower-seeds",
"title": "Coleus Seeds - Wizard Series (Pelleted)",
"url": "/products/coleus-wizard-series-flower-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/onion-bunching-warrior-conventional-l-com-wm_1222x1222_1bf8fed6-da4d-4f65-aa7e-72b8dec709df.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/MVS-generic-packet-com_fdb744da-33bf-4003-b951-0227b3b9bb20.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "onion-seeds-bunching-warrior-aas",
"title": "Onion Seeds - Bunching - Warrior AAS",
"url": "/products/onion-seeds-bunching-warrior-aas",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Beet_Rainbow_Blend_Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_89223a01-d3ba-4390-b07d-edcaeb9414d8.png",
"price": 806,
"handle": "beet-seeds-rainbow-blend",
"title": "Beet - Rainbow Blend - Microgreen Seeds",
"url": "/products/beet-seeds-rainbow-blend",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/corn-ornamental-indian-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sm_312f74a3-a8f7-4786-ba50-47a1069b7bc7.png",
"price": 359,
"handle": "corn-ornamental-indian",
"title": "Corn Seeds - Ornamental - Indian",
"url": "/products/corn-ornamental-indian",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/pepper-sweet-mini-bell-red-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_ae1d04a6-25c5-448e-b761-21771470d370.jpg",
"price": 199,
"handle": "pepper-sweet-mini-bell-red-seeds",
"title": "Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Mini Bell Red",
"url": "/products/pepper-sweet-mini-bell-red-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/bean-bush-california-black-eye-cowpeas-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/MVS-generic-packet_1_6af5addd-7219-46cc-bd63-a115ee1b005f.jpg",
"price": 366,
"handle": "bean-bush-california-black-eye-cowpeas",
"title": "Bean Seeds - Bush - California Black-Eye Cowpeas",
"url": "/products/bean-bush-california-black-eye-cowpeas",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/marigold-bonanza-series-flower-seeds-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/marigold-bonanza-series-flame-flower-wm_700.jpg",
"price": 419,
"handle": "marigold-bonanza-series-flower-seeds",
"title": "French Marigold Seeds - Bonanza Series (Coated)",
"url": "/products/marigold-bonanza-series-flower-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Inoculant_Alfalfa_Clover_All_Sizes.Comp_215e931c-e3dc-4437-9c46-1d55eb013b7d.jpg",
"secondary_image": "files/Inoculant_Lifestyle_Supportive.Comp_4357fd4d-89d6-452e-ae37-9f0d9d6ab6a0.jpg",
"price": 770,
"handle": "cover-crop-inoculant-alfalfa-and-clover",
"title": "Cover Crop Inoculant - Alfalfa and Clover (Organic)",
"url": "/products/cover-crop-inoculant-alfalfa-and-clover",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-elephant-head-amaranth-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-elephant-head-amaranth",
"title": "Amaranthus Seeds - Elephant Head (Organic)",
"url": "/products/organic-elephant-head-amaranth",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/jericho-lettuce-seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Packet_ba7eeb32-7a8e-4965-b509-dd2883f3289e.jpg",
"price": 299,
"handle": "jericho-lettuce-seeds",
"title": "Lettuce Seeds - Jericho",
"url": "/products/jericho-lettuce-seeds",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/basic-microgreens-dozen-assortment-wm_1222x1222_b34d00c1-cc00-4a53-9bff-43cc74e74e82.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/micro-amaranth-greens-wm_700_800x_2bafc296-d0bf-401c-96b6-11d806315bae.jpg",
"price": 9067,
"handle": "basic-dozen-microgreen-assortment",
"title": "Seed Assortment: Basic Dozen Microgreens",
"url": "/products/basic-dozen-microgreen-assortment",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Basil-Seeds-Italian-Large-Leaf-microgreens-Seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/basil-italian-large-leaf-microgreens-wb-wm.jpg",
"price": 865,
"handle": "basil-seeds-italian-large-leaf-microgreens-seeds",
"title": "Basil Seeds - Italian Large Leaf - Microgreens Seeds",
"url": "/products/basil-seeds-italian-large-leaf-microgreens-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Mustard_Tatsoi_Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "",
"price": 399,
"handle": "mustard-tatsoi-seeds",
"title": "Mustard Seeds - Tatsoi",
"url": "/products/mustard-tatsoi-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/Buckwheat-Groats-Organic-Sprouting-Seeds-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/buckwheat-seeds-wm_700_50216930-fb96-4c08-b719-7c70d1a8c52a.jpg",
"price": 930,
"handle": "buckwheat-groats-hulled-organic",
"title": "Buckwheat Groats (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds",
"url": "/products/buckwheat-groats-hulled-organic",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/kohlrabi-seeds-purple-vienna-organic-Comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-sus-wm-comp_478ecc50-adec-4191-99c5-087e81ef5a19.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "kohlrabi-seeds-purple-vienna-organic",
"title": "Kohlrabi Seeds - Purple Vienna (Organic)",
"url": "/products/kohlrabi-seeds-purple-vienna-organic",
"available": false
},
{
"featured_image": "files/alyssum-royal-carpet-seed-wm_700_1222x1222_27e3c9c1-2abb-4024-a3ab-7e47dd054a86.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-1-oz-sm_2b82e41c-26e4-43db-a51b-f10fff44ecd0.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "alyssum-royal-carpet-flower-seeds",
"title": "Alyssum Seeds - Royal Carpet",
"url": "/products/alyssum-royal-carpet-flower-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/flower-seed-wildflower-mixes-all-perennial-mix-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/all-perennial-wildflower-mix-com-wm.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "flower-seed-wildflower-mixes-all-perennial-mix",
"title": "All Perennial Flower Seeds Mix",
"url": "/products/flower-seed-wildflower-mixes-all-perennial-mix",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/digitalis-foxglove-mixed-seed-wm_700_1222x1222_f124cff4-260a-435d-a204-8cc73a89f425.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/non-gmo-seed-bag-4-oz-sm_e33d6d42-9a19-44a3-b6ae-a401073fa3e8.png",
"price": 299,
"handle": "digitalis-foxglove-mixed-color-flower-seeds",
"title": "Digitalis (Foxglove) Seeds - Mixed Color",
"url": "/products/digitalis-foxglove-mixed-color-flower-seeds",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/onion-seeds-hybrid-yellow-granex-prr-f1-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/Seed_Pouch_1_ecba499e-3058-4869-a99b-9212bd22725d.jpg",
"price": 399,
"handle": "onion-seeds-hybrid-yellow-granex-prr-f1",
"title": "Onion Seeds - Short - Yellow Granex PRR Hybrid",
"url": "/products/onion-seeds-hybrid-yellow-granex-prr-f1",
"available": true
},
{
"featured_image": "files/organic-early-prolific-straightneck-squash-comp.jpg",
"secondary_image": "products/SSC-organic-generic-packet-com_d69953eb-24c7-4d9a-9d0f-a3399e9dbad5.jpg",
"price": 359,
"handle": "organic-early-prolific-straightneck-squash",
"title": "Squash Seeds - Summer - Early Prolific Straightneck (Organic)",
"url": "/products/organic-early-prolific-straightneck-squash",
"available": true
}
]
