That was a really fast month. The May 6 blog detailed what was planted. This entry will take a look at the various crops and plants. We managed to squeeze a week at Ocracoke Island (lots of kayaking and seafood consumption), so the following represents 3 weeks of garden care. Please also note that I am now engaged in my weekly Instagram Live sessions (my name there is @nctomatoman), Fridays at 4 PM eastern.

flower garden, early June - and all of this was there (perennials are such fun!)

Above are two views of our main flower garden. Pretty much everything vanishes over the winter. Warm weather wakens the various perennials planted in there, and we get the view shown in the second picture. At this point, astilbe, miniature roses and spider wort provide the color. Soon, zinnias, salvia, phlox, echinacea and rudbeckia will join the show.

What a difference a month makes. The small zinnia, chard and basil plants really took off over the last month in this new raised bed. We are cutting the zinnias to bring in, and using the chard and basil in our meals preparations.

Lettuce grows very quickly in cooler weather. We are having a lot of salads - we steal outer leaves - but the plants will bolt soon. I started some new lettuce plants so that we can take advantage of the partly shaded location of this new raised bed #2. Nothing tastes better in the spring than home grown lettuce!

June 5 view of bush snap beans that were direct seeded into the bales

June 5 view of direct seeded summer squash

The above pics show the strawbales that were direct seeded in early May. Due to the warmth created by the composting interior of the bales, growth is shockingly rapid. We expect to see blossoms on all of the above very soon, and harvest of the various crops within a month or less. Strawbales really work so well!

Above our pics of the eggplants and peppers planted into the strawbales on May 3. Both heat loving, it took some time for them to really catch on, but they are now growing very well. The plants were very tiny when planted. Small buds are showing on all plants.

The tomato Polish on May 3, just after planting

The same tomato plant, Polish, on June 5.

Dwarf Zoe’s Sweet X Dwarf Walter’s Fancy F1 in mid May

Dwarf Zoe’s Sweet X Dwarf Walter’s Fancy F1 on June 5

The set of pictures above show the remarkably rapid, healthy growth of the tomatoes, from 2 inch tall seedlings in early May to 3 plus foot tall beauties on June 5. The staking and/or caging is all in place, and plants have been pruned to 3 suckers each (for 4 fruiting stems) - except to those in cages that will not be pruned (Captain Lucky, Sun Gold, Mexico Midget and Egg Yolk), and the three new Dwarf X Dwarf hybrids, that will not be pruned at all.

That is it - a tour of the garden roughly one month from planting. So far, so very, very good (knocks on wood, crosses fingers!). I hope the gardens of all of you are off to a great start.