It’s the perfect time to clear the decks and roll out the welcome mat for heat-loving summer vegetables like corn, beans, okra, tomatoes, and peppers.

Fertilizing after significant rainfall is one of the smartest ways to support strong, productive plants throughout the growing season.

Rain is a gardener’s friend—watering plants, encouraging growth, and refreshing the soil. But prolonged wet weather also creates ideal conditions for certain pests that love moisture.

As the days lengthen and temperatures climb in late spring, many gardeners face a familiar sight: their once-crisp leaf lettuce suddenly shooting upward with tall flower stalks. This is bolting—and it’s the garden’s signal that it’s time for a seasonal handoff.

Welcome to May Madness, where every spare hour becomes planting time, weeding sessions, and hopeful anticipation of summer harvests.

Starting seeds indoors is one of the most rewarding parts of gardening, but there’s a make-or-break moment that many new gardeners overlook: hardening off.