One of the last garden mysteries to be revealed in our new yard is this stunning true red rhododendron, just beginning to open

Well here we are in the first week of May. I hope all of my blog readers - my gardening friends - are staying safe and well. It certainly is a uniquely unusual time for us all.

I just read my April blog and can’t believe how much has developed in the garden and with my seedlings. The weather here in Hendersonville NC has been quite delightful, a true spring with mild days and mostly cool nights, with no shortage of breezes and just enough rain. We actually have a frost threat on the way on Friday and Saturday night. I am hoping that the forecast changes to warmer overnight temps, but will do what I have to do to keep things alive. Particularly vulnerable will be the plants in straw bales, in the ground, in self watering containers, and the driveway full of seedlings. I can see some plant relocation and lots of covering up happening during the day on Friday.

A view of seedlings, planted self watering containers, raised bed, and bean, squash/cukes, and tomato straw bales, all planted and growing well

We continue to harvest and enjoy the greens that were shared with me by my friend Ralph last fall, and made the trip with us after repotting (various kale, collards, bok choy, lettuce and chard). Some of the lettuce is bolting, and it has been replaced with plants started from seed here in early spring. A double row of beets also reside in the raised bed pictured above.

Recently planted lettuce in the new raised bed

We purchased two 4-paks of spinach from the wonderful gardening shop at the WNC Farmers Market, and it is really spectacular. I seeded a rainbow color mix of carrots alongside the spinach, and they look great too. This is a real difference already noted between my Raleigh gardens (so hot, so soon) and the long cooler weather here.

There are 24 indeterminate tomatoes growing happily in 12 straw bales, and an additional 5 in the ground near our back deck (the cherry tomatoes, in a very convenient spot for snacking). The self watering containers are planted with sweet peppers or eggplants.

Indeterminate tomatoes happy in their straw bale, with the typical show of mushrooms

The double quartet of bales that were prepped and topped with potting mix are up and growing. One set is for bush beans, and the other for summer squash and cucumbers.

The bean garden - Marbel, Maxibell, Jade and (just planted down the center) Fowler

I am just about to plant the rest of the tomatoes - some small pot indeterminate just for seed saving and pollen, and lots of dwarf varieties - some releases, and some project selections of works in progress. I will then turn to planting chard, basil, and annual flowers started from seed. Rather than my typical gardens - either a large side yard rectangle, or the driveway area - gardening here will be more of a foodscaping principle - planting food crops and flower crops here and there, throughout our yard and gardens, for more flexibility and interest.

Sugar Snap peas starting their climb, with Wando bush snap peas in front.

Now for some news items:

Weekly Instagram Live - Friday, 3 PM EST, for 45 minutes. @nctomatoman is my user name. These are proving useful as a vehicle for me to share garden progress and to answer gardening questions. Please check them out - and I am also beginning to go live on Instagram spontaneously, as something worth sharing arises.

For the most part, my speaking engagements from this year that were cancelled due to COVID-19 are being rescheduled for next year. Watch my speaking page for revised dates.

Local seedling sales - Hendersonville/Asheville area - are underway. I’ve got a nice selection of tomatoes, and a limited selection of peppers and eggplants. Please email me to get a Word doc that has all of the details. I expect to have plants throughout May. I will probably not get into shipping plants this year.

I am also starting to be contacted for providing some workshops using video technology. Watch my newsletter, future blogs, and Instagram for updates. If you are a member of a master gardening group or garden club and are interested in me providing such a workshop, please get in touch with me.

I am just loving my new garden playground/laboratory!

Finally, I am in communication with Joe Lamp’l about appearing on a new episode of his wonderful Growing a Greener World TV show. Stay tuned for more.

I think that gets us all caught up. The above certainly represents a good month of progress! As always, thanks for reading.