After what felt like an endless stretch of chilly mornings, our family’s backyard garden is finally starting to make some progress. Spring arrived slowly and in spurts this year, resulting in a couple of “false starts” that our poor tomato and sweet potato plants are now paying the price for (more on that in a minute!). But a quick glance at the weather forecast looks promising, as warmer temperatures finally seem here to stay.
Back in mid-May, we had a few nice warm days, and I (naively) thought we could get an early start in the garden. I should’ve known better—I usually err on the side of caution when it comes to planting warm-loving crops, so I’m not sure what possessed me. Maybe every gardener needs a reality check every now and then, right? As a result of those few very cold nights, the tomato and sweet potato plants are looking a little rough around the edges. I’m hopeful they’ll bounce back once the heat sets in—they usually do. Fingers crossed I won’t need to replant much. The basil, on the other hand… well, it looks like it gave up entirely. Basil is especially sensitive to temperatures near freezing, and I’m pretty sure it didn’t make it.
So, as of the start of June—here’s what’s growing in our garden.
Planted in April (cold-hardy crops):
We got our early start with yellow, red, and Spanish onion sets, as well as carrots, snap peas, potatoes, spinach, and salad bowl greens. A few perennial herbs have made a cheerful return too—chives, thyme, sage, and chamomile are all looking strong. And the garlic, which we planted last October, is thriving so far. I can’t wait for scape season.
Planted in May (heat lovers + herbs):
Around mid-May we planted the annual herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and sweet potatoes (yes, those poor frost-nipped ones!). Then, just last week, we wrapped up the last of our planting with green beans, zucchini, cucumbers, nasturtium, calendula, pumpkins, and acorn squash.
Dealing with pests:
I’ve had issues with squash bugs the past few years—something I never dealt with until I moved the garden to its current location. So this year, I decided to mix things up. All the cucurbit family plants (zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash) have been relocated to a new bed further from the main garden. That change has left the usual garden space looking a bit smaller, but I’m hopeful it will help with pest pressure.
What’s next:
As the season warms, I’m hoping everything gets a strong start. The tomatoes and sweet potatoes still have time to perk up, and I’ll likely be replacing the basil soon. I’m keeping an eye on weeds, checking for signs of bugs (squash or otherwise), and trying to stay a step ahead. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that gardens reward patience—and adaptability.
Lessons Learned:
Gardening never seems to go exactly as planned, does it? Each year brings its own set of lessons—some humbling, some hopeful. This spring reminded me that the weather doesn’t care about my schedule, and that jumping the gun—no matter how eager I am—rarely pays off in the garden.
But even with the cold snaps, the basil casualties, and the squash bugs looming, I’m still excited every time I walk through the rows. There’s something comforting about watching familiar plants push their way out of the soil, season after season. A reminder that even after a slow or rocky start, growth is still possible.
If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s to stay flexible, keep experimenting, and not take a few crispy leaves too seriously. The garden has a way of teaching patience—and rewarding it, too.
What are your early wins in your own backyard gardens? How about lessons learned?
