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 - Sweet - Fushimi
65 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Fushimi Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 1,000 to 2,500 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for...
Cat Grass Seeds - Wheatgrass (Organic)
7-10 Days to Harvest. Triticum aestivum. Organic Cat Grass Sprouting Seeds. Non-GMO. High Germination. Cat & Pet Grass Seed Blend. Non-GMO, Certified Organic by OTCO. Your pets crave the sweet...
Marigold Seeds - Nematode Control
60-70 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Nematode Control Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. This drought-tolerant and deer-resistant marigold is an outstanding tool in any gardener’s tool belt. As a specially...
Spelt (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
2-3 Days to Harvest. Triticum spelta. Organic Spelt Sprouting Seeds. Organic. Non-GMO. Sprouting. High Germination. Spelt is hardy, easy to sprout and grow, and very nutritious. It has a sweet,...
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Kailaan
Broccoli Seeds - Chinese Broccoli - Kailaan. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica oleracea var alboglabra. Also known as cai ro, chair lan, Chinese broccoli, Chinese kale, gailaan, gai lan, gailon, gelancai, guy...
Gourd Seeds, Bitter - India - Hybrid
40-55 Days to Maturity (after transplanting). Momordica charantia ’India’. India Bitter Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. The India-type bitter melon has dark green skin; this hybrid's 6-8 inch fruits...
Gourds Seeds - Small Mix
Small Gourds Mix is ready in 90-120 days. This is a collection of different shapes in shades of white, cream, gold, yellow, and green. These gourds are suitable for decoration....
Caraway Seeds
455 Days to maturity (2nd year). Carum carvi. Caraway Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom, biennial herb seed. Attracts pollinators and is both cold and drought-tolerant once established. Caraway is an attractive...
Pea Seeds - Snow - Taiwan Sugar (Organic)
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Organic Taiwan Sugar Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery...
Calendula Seeds - Solar Flashback Mix - Organic
50-60 Days to maturity. Calendula officinalis. Solar Flashback Mix Calendula Seeds. Non-GMO, Organic, Annual. Solar Flashback Mix Calendula flowers are a distinctive new family of flash calendulas, selected to highlight...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Peron Sprayless
70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Peron Sprayless Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, drought tolerant, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and...
Yellow Soybeans (Organic) - Bulk Grains
Used for centuries in Eastern Asia as a food source and for its medicinal properties, these Organically grown soybeans are a fabulous source of plant protein. Soybean sprouts are incredibly...
Basil - Cinnamon - Microgreens Seeds
18-30+ days. This variety of basil may look like any other with faint shades of bronze in its stems, but the aroma and flavor will tell you otherwise. While still...
Squash - Summer - Dark Green Zucchini (Organic)
Cucurbita pepo. (45-65 days) An early vigorous bush zucchini with straight, smooth, dark-green mottled fruits. Tastiest at 6-8" with pale greenish-white, firm flesh. Great for market growers and easy to...
Onion Seeds - Short - Texas Grano 502 (Organic)
110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Organic Texas Grano 502 Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, short-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Fordhook Zucchini
50-60 Days to maturity. Cucurbita pepo. Fordhook Summer Zucchini Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. 1942 AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Nasturtium Seeds - Empress of India
Empress of India Nasturtium Flower Seeds. Edible Flowers. Annual Flower. Mix with a salad of baby greens or use as a garnish. The dark leaves set off the dazzling, long-spurred...
Mustard Seeds - Spinach (Komatsuna) - Tendergreen
45 days. Mustard-Spinach or Komatsuna. Milder than regular mustard greens, this variety has thick, smooth leaves on upright, heat and cold tolerant plants. Tendergreen is widely used both in stir...
Radish Seeds - Easter Egg Blend
Non-GMO Easter Egg Blend Radish Seeds, Heirloom. Easter Egg Blend Radish Seeds are native to regions in Asia and were grown in Europe around 5,000 years ago. Freshly eaten radishes...
Mustard Seeds - Florida Broadleaf
48 days. One of the first greens of the season. This 10 inch mustard has small, bright green, broad leaves with white midribs. A vigorous growing plant that is high...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Super Italian Paste
73-97 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Super Italian Paste Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, paste tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Corn Seeds - Popcorn - Glass Gem
110 days. The Glass Gem variety of corn was developed by Carl Barnes, a farmer from Oklahoma, as a way of reconnecting with his Cherokee heritage. The Glass Gem seeds...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Sunburst Hybrid
Non-GMO Hybrid Sunburst Squash is a buttery-yellow scallop summer squash. Best picked when it grows 2-3 inches wide. Pattypan squash variety with a thin skin with a bush habit that...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Jung Green
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Jung Green. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var parachinesis. 40-45 days. Warm season annual. Flowering Brassica is a fast growing green that can be harvested as...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Sweet Pickle
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Sweet Pickle Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in containers,...
Cosmos Seeds - Candystripe
60-90 Days to maturity. Cosmos bipinnatus. Candystripe Cosmos Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. Who wouldn't love Candystripe? Enjoy stunning colors on one of the easiest of all flowers to...
Superfood Mix - Microgreens Seeds (Organic)
5-7 Days to maturity. See the attributes table below for Latin names. Organic Superfood Microgreens Mix Seeds. These nutrient-packed organic greens bring an array of flavors to your plate. From...
Fall Clearance Seed Assortment Sale (30 Pack)
Get a whole garden's worth at once, and without paying a lot of money! Meet our Fall Clearance Seed Assortment: high-germination current-season seed packets bundled from our overstock so you...
Paracress Seeds - Toothache Plant
120-130 Days to maturity. Acmella oleracea. Toothache Plant Paracress Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, flower borders, and greenhouses. Toothache Plant Paracress...
Rutabaga Seeds - Laurentian
90-95 days. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Laurentian Rutabaga Seeds from True Leaf Market produce deep purple and creamy yellow rutabagas weighing up to 1 lb. The smooth, uniform roots are typically between...
Alyssum Seeds - Carpet of Snow
56-63 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Carpet of Snow Alyssum Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Open-pollinated, seeds. Carpet of Snow Alyssum flower seeds grow one of the most familiar and beloved...
Parsley Seeds - Plain or Single (Organic)
70-80 Days to maturity. Petroselinum crispum. Organic Plain or Single Parsley Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Plain...
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