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]()
Fenugreek Seeds
Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Heirloom Fenugreek Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Trigonella foenum-graecum. Fenugreek is a warm fast-maturing annual that's been used as an incense dating back to Ancient...
Wildflower Seeds - Partial Shade Mix
Partial Shade Mix wildflower seeds grow some of the season's most inspired, classic, and lasting blooms. Partial Shade Wildflower Mix seeds contain a blend of 19 partial-sun varieties of wildflowers...
Wheat - Soft White (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
1-2 Days to Harvest. Triticum aestivum. Organic Soft White Wheat Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. Excellent Germination Rate. Soft white wheat berries are excellent for sprouting easily and quickly. They...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Bodacious R/M Hybrid
80-90 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Bodacious R/M Hybrid Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and drought-prone...
Carrot Seeds - Kuroda Long 8"
The Kuroda Long 8" carrot is a sweet Asian carrot. It is tolerable to multiple climates, and grows best with some shade. Seeds should be planted in fertile loose soil....
Asparagus Seeds - UC 72
2-3 years, perennial.Non-GMO, open pollinated. The UC 72 Asparagus variety was created to be tolerant to drought and Fusarium Wilt. Plants produce large yields after being in the ground for...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Masai
47-60 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Masai Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, heat tolerant, bush, snap, green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Mustard Seeds - Osaka Purple
21 to 45 days. An outstanding mustard of dark green-purple leaves with bright white veins. Harvest at 4 to 6 inches for salad or allow it to grow to full...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Hungarian Yellow Wax
58 to 85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Pepper, Hot - Hungarian Hot Wax - Organic Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant,...
Seed Assortment - Flower Garden
The Flower Garden Seed Assortment is a collection of our loveliest, most popular, and easy-to-grow flower seeds for planting. Explore your creativity with a wide selection of flower colors and...
Orach Seeds (French Spinach) - Red Fire
Non-GMO, Heirloom Red Fire Orach Vegetable Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Atriplex hortensis. Red Fire Orach Seeds originated in Egypt and Europe, as one of the oldest cool season...
French Marigold Seeds - Janie Series
56-63 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Janie Series Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Growing Janie Series Marigold seeds this season is an effortless and award-winning way to dash some summer...
Echinacea Seeds - White Swan
70-84 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom White Swan Echinacea Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea grows as a warm perennial native to North America. Cultivated in 1987, this...
Eggplant Seeds - Purple Shine - Hybrid
65 days to maturity after transplant. Solanum melongena ’Purple Shine’. Purple Shine Eggplant Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This is a popular Chinese type eggplant variety. Fruits are firm and...
Parsley Seeds - Triple Moss Curled
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Triple Moss Curled Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Triple Moss Curled...
Lavender Seeds - Munstead
126-140 Days to maturity. Lavender angustifolia. Munstead Lavender Seeds. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Perennial. A fragrant robust lavender that, due to its short size and tightly held blooms (about 8...
Cucumber Seeds - Pickling - Wisconsin SMR
55-58 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Wisconsin SMR-58 Pickling Cucumber Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised...
Turnip Seeds - Seven Top
45-65 days. Brassica rapa. Seven Top Turnip seeds grow into cool season root vegetables that are biennials, fast growing and referred to as "turnip greens." These heirloom seeds come from...
Sorghum Seeds - Rox Orange Syrup Cane
Rox Orange Syrup Cane. Sorghum. Sorghum bicolor. 70-80 days. Open Pollinated. Heirloom. Non-GMO. AKA: Broom Corn. Though technically a variety of grass, Rox Orange Syrup sorghum grows a dramatic and...
Cucumber Seeds - National Pickling
50-70 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. National Pickling Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Radish Seeds - Lady Slipper
Non-GMO Heirloom Lady Slipper Radish is ready in 28 days. Beautiful soft-pink radish has an elongated body and roots. This radish has a smooth appearance and a crisp, mild, sweet...
Oats and Peas Cover Crop Seed Mix
50-70 Days to termination. Oat and Peas Cover Crop Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, winter-killing, no-till, forage-friendly. Plant as a spring, summer, or fall cover crop to restore vital nutrients and...
Lettuce Seeds - Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce Seeds. 55-60 Days. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Lactuca sativa. Highly productive, dwarfed bibb lettuce that is quick to mature no bigger than a baseball or tennis ball, the...
Parsley Seeds - Italian Giant
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Italian Giant Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Italian Giant parsley brings...
Eggplant Seeds - Little Finger Purple
Solanum melongena (68 days) Little Fingers grow in clusters that almost look like hands. They grow in clusters of 3-5 purple, slim fruits. ~7,850 seeds/oz. Eggplant Seeds - Little Finger...
Corn Seeds - Sweet - Sugar Buns Hybrid
70-80 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Sugar Buns Hybrid (treated) Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, Sweet Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Akasanjaku Yard Long
75 Days to maturity. Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. Akasanjaku Yard Long Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heat-tolerant, heirloom, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots,...
Mustard - Mizuna Red Streaks - Microgreens Seeds
Up to 12 days. Organic Red Streaks Mizuna Mustard Microgreens Seeds. A flavorful mustard sought after because of the spectacular red-purple highlights. Grows fast and tenacious. Mustard Microgreens are easy...
Gourd Seeds - Nam Tao Ngam - India Type -...
45-50 Days to maturity. Lagenaria siceraria. India Type Nam Tao Ngam Hybrid Seeds. Annual, Hybrid. India Type Nam Tao Ngam produces vigorously growing vines and 18-20" long bright green gourd...
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