May 6, 2015
The garden has changed quite a bit in a month!
(beginning of April)
(beginning of May) A lot more green but the real story is up close.
Peas and Cabbages
The first planting of peas never did well. I think it was too early and too wet. This is the second planting (mid-March). It has doubled or tripled in size since last month’s update. 
The cabbages are looking good under the covers. ^^^ Green cabbages above. Purple cabbage below. 
The third planting of peas are doing well. A little yellow, which is weird because they are planted in aged chicken manure. I’m just going to wait them out. Maybe I won’t need to add any compost tea. Lettuce is growing to the left. They were both planted at the end of March (2nd planting of lettuce). 
4th and last planting of peas are just starting to come up. 
Spinach: First planting (first of March) on left, 2nd planting (mid-March) on right. I have succession planted 5 plantings. I am just starting to harvest the 3rd planting. The 4th planting is just starting to come up. The 5th and last planting was just planted under the shade of the apple tree.
Lettuce: First planting (mid-March) is a little sparse. Some sprouts died in the Easter morning frost. We are just starting to harvest from these. I have made 4 succession plantings so far. The 4th was just planted this week.
Cilantro is a new plant for me this year. We are enjoying nibbling on these Vitamin C treasures. 
I also grew some lettuce in the milk jug greenhouses. These are the greenhouse transplants (transplanted in the carrot/beet bed). 
Carrots and Beets: This is where most of the carrots and beets are planted. Going counter-clockwise, starting at the bottom… The carrots at the bottom were planted first of March. Beets were planted to the left of them but the Easter morning frost killed the beet sprouts.
First planting of carrots (first of March)
Moving counter clockwise, here is the second planting of carrots and beets (planted mid-March). 
If you keep moving counterclockwise in the first picture, you will see the transplanted lettuce and then from the 12o’clock position to the 9o’clock position are the 4th and 5th carrot and beet plantings.
Potatoes: The first plantings of potatoes are coming up nicely all over the garden. We are still waiting on the second planting (beginning of April).
Strawberries: The plants are looking as lush as ever. They are flowering beautifully…
And are starting to set fruit 🙂 
The blueberries are coming along as well. The bees are almost finished pollinating them. SO thankful for the bees!!!
Kale: the transplants are coming along…not as big as I would like but I’m sure as it warms up, their growth will speed up.
Broccoli: doing well under the cover.
Flowers: Some sunflowers, zinnias, and Asters (I think?) are starting to sprout.
My tulips, on the other hand, just sit there and tease me. Meanies.
The warm-weather crops I planted have not sprouted yet (summer squash, winter squash, beans, corn, melons) but last week gave them a good soaking and this week is starting a warming trend so hopefully they’re not far behind.
Lastly, the mulch path I made this past winter because of all the mud needs another layer of mulch. How do I know?
Bermuda grass is coming through like crazy! 
It’s one of those things that is not high on the list of priorities but at the same time, it needs to be done before it gets too overrun.
CHICKENS
Our chicks are getting bigger (both sets)! And more eggs are set to hatch next week 🙂
(the 5th chick was under its mama) 
(one of the 10 chicks we bought at the tractor-supply store – 2 died this past week because of all the rain and chilly weather 😦 smart chicks didn’t know to go inside the coop to get warm) 
Our old biddies (2yrs old with the 1yo rooster) don’t know what to think about all the hulabaloo 😉
That’s what it going on in our Back to Eden Garden at the Beginning of May in Eastern NC, Zone 7b. The plan for May is:
- Continue to succession plant carrots, lettuce, beans, summer squash, and winter squash.
- Harvest Strawberries.
- Continue to harvest spinach and lettuce.
- Possibly harvest kale, peas, and carrots?
What does your garden look like at the beginning of May? I am linking up with Green Thumb Thursday today.
Gardening Without... 
Those chicks are so cute. It looks like you got rain. We really need it here. We have been having storms that wet the surface, but not below that. I usually don’t have to water in May. Usually we get too much water, but I might have to if the heat wave keeps up and the rain stays away.
How do you start your carrots? In greenhouse jugs or straight in the ground? Do you do anything special to get them to sprout? No matter what I do, I don’t seem to have much luck getting carrots started!