Quick Update of 2026 Garden

We’ve had roller-coaster weather once again here at The Roost, so I thought I’d hop on and give a quick garden update. Today’s temperatures are climbing into the upper 80s, with 90-degree days headed our way. YIKES! I’m definitely not a fan, but that’s exactly why we get an early start in the garden each year.

Mid-February was my official “go time” for seed starting. Inside, I started tomatoes, peppers, marigolds, geraniums, and coleus. I also experimented with starting a few herbs and flowers outdoors in zip-top bags. Before the fruit trees began flowering and budding, they received their annual spray treatment. The cover crop was turned under to compost naturally, and cauliflower, broccoli, and kale were planted. Needless to say, February kept me plenty busy and set the stage for what I hoped would be a productive growing season.

March came in HOT—literally—with temperatures reaching the high 80s during the day and dipping into the low 40s at night. Perfect weather for cool-season crops. I added spinach, carrots, and green onions to several of my raised beds and harvested our first batch of asparagus. I also ordered my praying mantis egg cases and ladybugs, though I may have jumped the gun a bit this year. No worries—it’s all documented in my garden journal for next year’s planning.

On March 15, Den's birthday, the potatoes went into the ground. I also planted bok choy, another round of spinach for succession planting, sweet peas, and sprinkled a wildflower mix throughout the garden to welcome future bees and butterflies. The Oklahoma wind was relentless around this time, making every gardening task a bit more challenging.

I wrapped up March by planting raspberry bushes, corn, and my pre-soaked ranunculus corms that I had saved from last season. Peppers, tomatoes, and herbs—including basil, thyme, and oregano—made their way to the greenhouse on March 31.

April arrived with plenty of rain and storms, which hopefully would bring May flowers and vegetables. The rain was beautiful and much appreciated, especially for the wax beans, okra, and eggplant. Our last frost came on April 7, and temperatures settled comfortably into the upper 60s and 70s.

With warmer weather finally here, I planted all the tomatoes, peppers, herbs, zucchini, summer squash, and cucumbers. I also experimented with the "snail" seed-starting method for pumpkins. The seedlings did surprisingly well and were transplanted among the corn and beans as part of my Three Sisters planting. More wildflowers found their way into the garden too.

I sorted through last year's dahlia tubers and was able to save a few, though several didn't survive the winter. Clearly, I need to come up with a better storage system before next season. Once the rains eased up, the surviving tubers were tucked into the garden beds.

April 26th. came the “Hail Storm” It was painful in more ways than one. I found myself trapped in the garden before making a mad dash for the house. There was blood, there were tears, but thankfully no stitches were required. The damage to the garden was heartbreaking. Tomato and pepper plants had their tops clipped off. Corn stalks were bent sideways. Okra and eggplants took a beating. Surprisingly, the broccoli and cauliflower weathered the storm remarkably well.

Despite the setback, a little hard work and a lot of determination helped put the garden back together. By the end of April, the 2026 garden was fully planted. To top it all off, Thelma adopted all 15 baby chicks, and I was absolutely jumping for joy.

Here we are today closing out May. I add spinach or kale daily to my morning smoothies. I pulled up my first of potatoes. Turned broccoli into a delicious quiche and harvested our first cauliflowers we've ever successfully grown here at The Roost. Those are the moments that make all the planning, planting, and waiting worthwhile.

The tomatoes, watermelons, and cucumbers are being carefully trained up their cattle panels, while the okra, eggplant, and peppers continue their impressive comeback after the hailstorm. Last night, we enjoyed our first harvest of summer squash with dinner—a simple reminder of why we garden in the first place.

The wildflowers have been especially beautiful this month, providing colorful bouquets for the bedside table of our May guests. Ranunculus and sunflowers are in full bloom, while the dahlias are steadily growing, building anticipation for the show they'll put on later this summer. The beans, corn, and pumpkins are thriving, and the garden is finally beginning to look just as I imagined it would back in those chilly days of February.

As I walk through the garden each morning, coffee cup in hand and listening to the sounds around me, I'm reminded that gardening is an exercise in faith, patience, and perseverance. Not every seed sprouts, not every storm can be avoided, and not every plan works out perfectly. Yet somehow, with a little hard work and a lot of grace, the garden continues to grow. And so do I in this journey.

How is your garden growing this season ? I cannot wait to see and hear what you have growing where ever you are.. Visit me on my socials for daily update in stories

Let me know sign my guest book

Keep going, keep growing~

Jenn