May 2026 Garden Update: Beginner Vegetable Gardening Tips

Kathy Brown, RD, LDN, RYT
May 7
2 min read

Grab a cup of tea or coffee, because today we’re heading into the garden! ☕🌷

After sharing a photo of my daughter helping out in the garden beds on Instagram, I received a resounding "yes" when I asked if you’d like to see more gardening content. So, I’m excited to officially start a Monthly Garden Update series! On the first Thursday of every month, I’ll be sharing what’s growing, what I’m learning, and how the garden is evolving.

A New Season (and a New Workspace Friend)

Before we head outside, I have a small update in my office. You might notice a new green friend behind me! I had to repot my spiky plant, "Spike," who is now soaking up the sun in another room. In his place is Lucky, our money plant, who will be keeping me company for a while. [02:13]

Navigating the "Beginner" Phase

I’ve helped with family gardens my whole life, but I only started my own from scratch about four years ago. I’m still very much in the "learning as I go" phase. For instance, I realized this year that placing three raised beds right next to each other made the middle one nearly impossible to reach! To fix that, I’ve moved the middle bed and added some chicken wire hoops. My hope is to create a fun "tunnel" for my daughter to run through while the vines grow overhead. [03:42]

What’s Currently in the Ground (Beginner Vegetable Gardener Tips)

In Illinois, we have to wait until mid-May to plant heat-loving vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers. However, I do have a few "cool weather" crops already getting settled:

Beets
Carrots
Kale
Radishes

The Seedling Lineup

Inside, I have a variety of seedlings that are just about ready to make the move outdoors next week:

Flowers: We have some mystery flowers (possibly marigolds!) and Larkspurs that are ready for a bigger pot. [06:28]
Sunflowers: I’m planning to put these in the very back so they don't shade out the rest of the garden. [07:13]
Tomatoes: I’m notorious for forgetting to water, but so far, these two are looking strong! [07:44]
Watermelon & Honeynut Squash: I’m especially excited about the Honeynut squash—a sweet, small hybrid that is absolutely delicious roasted with a bit of salt or cinnamon. [10:38]

I Need Your Help!

Since I’m still learning, I’d love to hear from the experienced gardeners in the community:

Watermelon Harvest: How do you tell when a watermelon is truly ready? Last year I picked one that looked perfect on the outside but wasn't quite sweet enough on the inside. [09:03]
Plant Identification: If you recognize the mystery flowers in the video, let me know! [05:36]

There is something so rewarding about eating the "fruits of your labor," and I can't wait to see how these plants progress by our next update in June.

Watch the full May Garden Update here: May 2026 Garden Update: What's Growing?