May Garden

May has been on the cool side, so I’ve kept the more tender plants indoors a bit longer.

Still, the garden is already offering up its first harvests—chives, lettuce, spinach, and kale are ready, and the strawberries, oregano and thyme are flourishing as well. You might see the small pots of tender plants—I’m easing them into the outdoors bit by bit to help them harden off.

The pyramid planter has been seeded with a mix of amaranth, corn, beans, and squash in one section, and melons in the other. Nasturtiums are planted nearby to attract predatory insects away from the vegetables, and red clover serves both as a nitrogen fixer and a living mulch to protect the soil. Looks like I’m going to need to make protective screens to keep squirrels and birds from digging up or snacking on the seedlings.

It’s been a slow start to the season

but there is still plenty of time to keep growing!

Have you gone through something like this in your own garden—or maybe something totally unexpected? Tell us about it in the comments!