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]()
Tobacco Seeds - Black Sea Samsun
55–65 Days from transplant to maturity. Nicotiana tabacum. Black Sea Samsun Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant...
Green Pea (Organic) - Bulk Grains
Green peas are a classic addition to any kitchen or home garden. These dried green peas have been tested for microbes and can be used for microgreens, food storage, cooking,...
Wildflower Seeds - Dry Land Mix
Annual and perennial mix. Dry Land Mix wildflower seed grows some of the season's most classic, colorful, and fragrant collection of blooms. Dryland Mix wildflower seeds contain a unique mix...
Radish Seeds - Sparkler
Non-GMO, Heirloom Sparkler Radish Seeds. This fast cool season crop is a delight with its pretty red skin that changes to white at the tip. Matures in 25 to 30...
Millet - Whole (Organic) - Sprouting Seeds
Whole millet is great for high germination sprouting, birdseed, and animal feed. Available in various quantities in resealable packaging. Select a Different Use for This Seed: Emergencey Storage Certified Organic...
Collards - Vates - Microgreens Seeds
10 to 12 days. A tasty brassica microgreen! Resealable pouch of Vates Collard Greens seed for growing microgreens. A brassica that grows well hydroponically. Select a Different Use for This...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Jalapeno Gigantia F1
Jalapeno Gigantia F1 Hybrid Hot Pepper Seeds. Capsicum annuum. F1 Hybrid. Non-GMO. Annual. 70 days to maturity. Jalapeno Gigantia are large, 5 inches long peppers that are great for stuffing....
Winter Rye (Organic) - Bulk Grains
Secale cereale. Annual, open-pollinated. 2-3 days for rye berry sprouts or 7-10 days for ryegrass. These Organic ryegrass seeds (not to be confused with ryegrass Lolium) seeds are great for...
Aster Seeds - Crego Giant Mixture
91-105 Days to maturity. Callistephus chinensis. Crego Giant Mixture Aster Seeds. Non-GMO, Ornamental, Annual. Open-pollinated flower seeds. Crego Giant Mix Aster flower seeds grow a playful, robust, and familiar looking...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Homestead
80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Homestead Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, humidity tolerant, drought tolerant, semi-determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in...
Radish Seeds - Korean - Bora King - Hybrid
60 days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Bora King Hybrid Korean Radish Seeds. Cool season annual. Bora King radishes live up to their royal name by being a gorgeous purple all...
Lettuce Seeds - Leaf - Green Ice
Green Ice leaf lettuce is glossy with fingered dark green leaves. Leaves are loose and wrinkled with frilled edges. This lettuce is deliciously crispy even when grown in the heat...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Korean - Gochujang King -...
90-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Gochujang King Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, hot-type pepper with mild heat levels. 500 to 1,500 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
Fenugreek Seeds - Microgreens
Fenugreek seeds. 30 Days. Annual, Open Pollinated. Trigonella foenum-graecum. Fenugreek can be used grown as a mature herb or microgreen. Fenugreek seeds are popularly used in spice mixes and teas....
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Watermelon Beefsteak (Organic)
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Watermelon Beefsteak Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Pansy Seeds - Cool Wave Series
91-98 Days to maturity. Viola x wittrockiana. Cool Wave Series Pansy Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Cool Wave Series seeds grow easily into a trailing/spreading version of the...
Sunflower Seeds - Mexican
Tithonia rotundifolia Mexican sunflower is a showy, drought tolerant, annual that makes an excellent cut flower. The bright red-orange flowers measure 2-3 inches across, against velvety dark green leaves. Mexican...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Giant Garden Paste Hybrid
95 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Giant Garden Paste Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, indeterminate, paste tomato. Giant Garden Paste has a wonderfully sweet and acidic...
Carrot Seeds - Bambino (Organic)
Bambino. Carrot. Daucus carota. 54-63 days. Organic. Non-GMO. Annual. Organic Bambino carrot is considered a gourmet variety, reaching its peak of flavor at about 4-5 inches long. Bambino earns its...
Marigold (Signata) Seeds - Gem Series
63-77 days. Gem Series signata seeds promise a stunning and exotic twist to the traditional marigold popularly grown in the United States. Gem Series seeds grow tidy 9-12" dwarfed mounds...
Bells of Ireland Seeds
98-112 days. Bells of Ireland seeds promise exotic, unmistakable, and low-maintenance blooms native to the cool and dry highlands of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Bells of Ireland boast 24-36" tall...
Sweet William Seeds - Double Mixture
105-112 days to maturity. Dianthus barbatus. Dianthus Double Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual, or Biennial. Ornamental. Double Mix Sweet William seeds promise elegant 3-5 inch blooms of crimsons, scarlets, and pinks...
Melon Seeds - Honeydew - Green Flesh (Organic)
105 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Organic Green Flesh Honeydew Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant Honeydew Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and...
Lettuce Seeds - Summer Bibb - Organic
(43 days) Lt. John B. Bibb served in the War of 1812, represented Logan County in the Kentucky House of Representatives and the state Senate from 1827 to 1834. Lt....
Onion Seeds - Intermediate - Imai Early Yellow
150 days maturity after transplanting. Allium cepa. Imai Early Yellow Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, cool-season, annual, heirloom. This selection of Senshu Yellow matures 10-15 days earlier than original Imai. A medium-day...
Basil Seeds - Cinnamon
Non-GMO, Open-pollinated, Heirloom Cinnamon Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has lots of different varieties, Cinnamon Basil Herb is one of the most popular sweet...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - Amish Paste (Organic)
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Amish Paste (Organic) Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, paste tomato. Amish Paste tomato plants produce one of the largest...
Starter Organic Wheatgrass Growing Kit
This Organic starter wheatgrass kit is the perfect introduction to growing your own wheatgrass at home for only pennies per day. The kit includes everything you need to grow up...
Eggplant Seeds - Florida Market
Florida Market eggplants plants are hardy and resistant to most diseases. They produce 9.5 inch by 6.5 inch fruits that are tear drop shaped. Fruits are dark purple and glossy....
Lettuce Seeds - Jericho - Organic
Silky smooth neon green romaine leaves reach for the sky in this amazing lettuce with origins in the desert. Jericho hails from Israel and is no stranger to the heat....
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