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]()
Chamomile Seeds - German
Non-GMO, Heirloom German Chamomile Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Matricaria chamomilla. German Chamomile plants originated in Western Asia and were later cultivated in Europe, where chamomile has been...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Hales Best Jumbo (Organic)
85-110 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, heirloom, open-pollinated, organic, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Contender
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Contender Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, heat tolerant, bush, snap, stringless bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Radish Seeds - Champion
Non-GMO, Heirloom, champion radish seeds. 25 days. AAS Winner. Recommended by USU. Deep scarlet, globe-shaped root is very firm and stands well without becoming pithy. Fresh, spicy-sweet flavor, Champion radishes...
Radish Seeds - Microgreen - Sango Purple
6-10 days. Sango Radish microgreens are substantial, crunchy and taste exactly like radish. Very easy and fast growers. Spectacular purple color makes a great choice to add color and pep...
Sprout Lid - Seed Sprouting
Sprout lids are perfect for those using the jar method in sprouting. They work on wide-mouth mason jars, both quart and half-gallon sizes. These sprout lids are made of durable...
Borage Herb Seeds
60-70 Days. Borage Culinary Herb Seeds. Borago officinalis. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Borage seeds are grown as both an indoor culinary herb and an open-pollinated garden herb. Non-GMO Borage seeds produce some...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Jalapeno (Organic)
Organic, heirloom, Non-GMO Jalapeno pepper seeds are a great hot pepper to start due to their ease and versatility. The heat is between 2,000 and 8,000 Scoville Units. Hot peppers...
Fenugreek - Organic - Sprouting Seeds
2-5 Days. Trigonella foenum-graecum. High Germination. Organic. Sprouting. A culinary staple in India and the surrounding region for thousands of years, non-GMO Organic fenugreek seeds are one of the most...
Cucumber Seeds - Straight Eight
55-60 days. Straight Eight Cucumber Seeds. Cucumis sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Nearly a century-old American heirloom, the Straight Eight is an award-winning slicing cucumber known for its uniformly straight 8 inch...
Stainless Steel Fermenting Kits
This complete stainless-steel fermentation solution makes mason jar fermentation easy, simple, and convenient. Trellis fermenting lids fit on any wide-mouth jar from 8 Oz to 64 oz, so you can...
Onion Seeds - Long - Walla Walla
90-110 Days to maturity. Allium cepa. Walla Walla Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, and raised beds. Walla...
Cabbage Seeds - Red Acre
100 days. The Red Acre cabbage is a hardy garden crop that can be grown in climate zones three through nine. The plant produces medium sized, maroon heads that can...
Zinnia Seeds - California Giant Mix
75-90 Days to maturity. Zinnia elegans. California Giant Mixture Zinnia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. The “king of summer annuals" California Giant Mix seeds are the largest variety of Zinnias ever,...
Lettuce Seeds - Gourmet Mix (Organic)
45-65 days. Organic Gourmet Mixture Lettuce Seeds. Lactuca sativa. Heirloom. Mixed Greens. Organic Gourmet Mix lettuce seeds feature a specialty blend of choice tender loose-leaf lettuce greens to help diversify...
Spinach Seeds - Bloomsdale Long Standing
35-50 days. Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach Seeds. Spinacia oleracea. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Bloomsdale Spinach seeds came from Philadelphia in the late 19th century by D. Landreth & Sons Seed Company....
Winter Rye - Cover Crop Seeds
This is rye grain (Secale cereale) - not Ryegrass (Lolium). It is not for over-seeding lawns. Open-pollinated. Annual. Heirloom. Non-GMO Organic winter rye cover crop is one of the most...
Common Thyme Seeds (Organic)
Certified Organic. Non-GMO. Perennial. 85 days. Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Common Thyme Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Genus Thymus. Common Thyme is a cold hardy perennial that grows as...
Radish - Purple - Microgreens Seeds
6-10 days. Purple Radish is a solid, reliable and delicious microgreen. Cotyledons are mostly deep purple with occasional green, which make a beautiful highlight. The rosy stems and bright flavor...
Spearmint Seeds
50-70 Days to maturity. Mentha spicata. Spearmint Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Enjoy the vibrant, fruity aroma of...
Basil Seeds - Genovese
60-90 days. Genovese basil seeds. Ocimum basilicum. Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Genovese is a sweet basil heirloom native to the Italian provinces of Genoa, Savona, and Imperia; while locals are decided...
Broccoli - Microgreens Seeds
8-12 days. Broccoli microgreens have a high sulforaphane content with a mild broccoli flavor. The greens are fast-growing and substantial. Easy to grow and grows well in both soil and...
Petunia Seeds - Easy Wave Series (pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Easy Wave Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Easy Wave Series petunia seeds grow one of summer's most famous and...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Early Girl Hybrid
60 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Early Girl Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, indeterminate, salad. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Eggplant Seeds - Black Beauty
74 days. The Black Beauty variety of eggplant is ideal for eggplant parmesan or stuffed eggplant dishes. The Black Beauty reaches maturity in seventy four days and is suitable for...
Collards Seeds - Georgia Southern
70 days. Georgia Southern Collard seeds grow cabbage like dark green leaves, with a slightly crumpled texture. These collard leaves are huge and juicy, making them excellent for salads and...
Cucumber Seeds - Tendergreen Burpless
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Tendergreen Burpless Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, burpless, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
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