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]()
Garbanzo Bean - Organic - Sprouting Seeds
2-5 Days. Cicer arietinum. High Germination. Organic. Sprouting. Widely known as chickpea or chana, non-GMO Organic garbanzo beans are one of the most nutritious and protein-rich sprouting seeds. Ready to...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Jade
50-65 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Jade Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, rust resistant, high-yielding, bush, snap green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Pumpkin Seeds - Jack O Lantern
90-110 days. Jack O Lantern Pumpkin Seeds. Cucurbita pepo. Open Pollinated. Non-GMO. Producing bright orange 10-12 lb pumpkins a piece, Jack O Lantern pumpkins are the ideal seeds for Halloween...
Pea Seeds - Snow - Oregon Sugar Pod II
65-70 days. Oregon Sugar Pod II Snow Pea Seeds. Pisum sativum. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Oregon Sugar Pod II snow pea is an American heirloom crop specifically bred for the cooler Pacific...
Viola Seeds - Sorbet Series
91-98 Days to maturity. Viola cornuta. Sorbet Series Viola Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, Premium Quality Seeds, perennial. Sorbet Series seeds grow year-round violas in your home or garden when others might...
Carrot Seeds - Rainbow Blend (Organic)
65-75 days. The Rainbow Blend Carrot is an excellent way to get lots of colors in the garden all at once! This kaleidoscope of carrots is a colorful mixture of...
Mustard Seeds - Southern Giant Curled
Non-GMO, Heirloom Southern Giant Curled Mustard Seeds from True Leaf Market. Southern Giant Curled Mustard is a staple in Southern gardens. It has large, bright green fringed and curled leaves...
Pea Seeds - Shelling - Lincoln
60-70 Days to maturity. Pisum sativum. Lincoln Pea Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to powdery mildew and...
Brussels Sprouts - Catskill
Brassica oleracea (85-98 days) Introduced to the seed trade in 1941. Catskills produce a richly flavored heirloom brussel sprout that is about 1 1/2"- 2" in diameter. Approx. 8,000 seeds...
Carrot Seeds - Scarlet Nantes (Organic)
70 days. Organic Scarlet Nantes carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. One of the most popular and widespread varieties of carrot ever, Organic Scarlet Nantes has since been the...
Hard Red Winter Wheat - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
90 Days. Triticum aestivum. Open-Pollinated. Cover Crop. Organic. Non-GMO Organic hard red winter wheat cover crop seeds are one of the most tolerant and beneficial grows available to home gardeners....
Tomatillo Seeds - Grande Rio Verde
80 days. (Husk Tomato) Large fruited tomatillo with sweet green fruits measuring 2 to 3 inches across (1.8 - 2.8 ounces), enclosed in a papery husk. Vigorous prostrate vine. Used...
Cabbage Seeds - Copenhagen Market
65 to 75 days. The Copenhagen Market cabbage was produced in Denmark and brought to America in 1909. It is a hardy plant that can be grown in climate zones...
Pea - Afila Tendril - Microgreens Seeds
Produces microgreens pea shoots with an abundances of curly tendrils. AKA: Affilla Pea. Tendril Peas are a choice variety for pea shoot production. We only stock seeds with high germination...
Spicy Salad Mix (Organic) - Microgreens Seeds
8-12 days. A flavorful and colorful combination of microgreens that grow well together and can be harvested at 10 days. Contains: Broccoli, Kale, Kohlrabi, Arugula, Red Cabbage & Mustard for...
Petunia Seeds - Dreams Series (pelleted)
98-105 Days to maturity. Petunia x hybrida. Dream Series Petunia Seeds. Non-GMO, hybrid, Premium Quality Seeds, annual. Dreams Series petunia seeds are an essential and timeless flower in your garden,...
Pak Choi Seeds - White Stem
Up to 33 days. Pak Choi is also known as Bok Choy. The plant produces large, green leaves off a thick, white stem. Leaves have a mild and peppery flavor,...
French Marigold Seeds - Sparky Mixture
63-77 Days to maturity. Tagetes patula. Sparky Mixture Marigold Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated. Sparky Mixture French marigold seeds offer one of the most vibrant and inexpensive blooms available to the...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Cherokee Purple (Organic)
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Lettuce Seeds - Butterhead - All Year Round
65-75 days. All Year Round Butterhead Lettuce Seeds. Lactuca sativa. Non-GMO. Annual. An award-winning and absolutely hardy cultivar of butter head, Buttercrunch is tender, delicious, and looks as good in...
Tobacco Seeds - Virginia 116
~65 Days from transplant to maturity. Nicotiana tabacum. Virginia 116 Tobacco Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Rainbow Mixture (Organic)
60 days. Organic Rainbow Mixture Swiss Chard seeds. Beta vulgaris var. cicla. Non-GMO. Organic Rainbow mixture swiss chard seed is the perfect variety mix for the home gardener who wants...
Tarragon Seeds - Russian
Non-GMO, Heirloom Russian Tarragon Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Artemisia dracunculoides. Tarragon is a warm perennial with woody stems, light-green slender leaves and a mild earthy flavor"as opposed...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - San Marzano Determinate
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. San Marzano Determinate Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, paste tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Squash Seeds - Winter - Table Queen Acorn
80-85 days. Cucurbita pepo var. turbinata. Table Queen Acorn Winter Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated. Also known as Des Moines Squash and Pepper Squash, Table Queen is the heirloom that...
Cucumber Seeds - Lemon
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Lemon Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing or pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Lavender Seeds (Organic)
90+ Days to maturity. Lavandula angustifolia. Organic Lavender Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Organic English Lavender—also called Vera...
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