April was a nice month in North Dakota, but now as May winds down, it's been raining, windy and often times teetering on the freezing mark at night.

We had similar conditions last year as well as 2008. I think we must be in some kind of wet weather cycle. And, if it holds true, June will most likely be chilly and wet. 

In a way that's OK because we can always use the moisture. But, we need sun and heat too. The seeds in the ground need to germinate and the plants need some heat to get growing. It doesn't seem like my tomatoes have grown at all in about a week since it's been so cloudy and gloomy.

But today (Sunday, May 30) it's sunny and windy so as soon as the field dries off enough after 3 inches of rain, all 620 tomato plants will be put in and 360 pepper plants. 

Essentially, that's all we have remaining in this huge, 2.5 acre garden we planted this year. I just hope we get the bounty commensurate to all the work we've put into it thus far. 

If we do, we're going to be surprised. Ideally, the tomatoes should produce 6,000 pounds of fruit, we should get 1,000 pounds of cucumbers and roughly a ton of carrots. 

On the other hand, it could be a disaster. In fact, I'm already disappointed about the onions. We planted them on May 8 and 9 and I don't see any onions growing yet. We put down transplants and seed and neither are up. But the quackgrass is growing so a decision will have to be made soon.

The good news, all three potato varieties, radishes, turnips and mesclum have all come up despite the cool soil temperature. 

I'll tell you what readers, this is the time of year I'm so impatient. I can't wait for plants to emerge. And when I get discouraged that something isn't. I just go to where the garlic is growing and it looks like the best crop yet and I feel much better.

I don't think there is a disappointment in the garlic patch. Some of the softneck plant look a little weak, but they are growing. The hardnecks look fantastic, all nine varieties; and German Extra Hardy and Georgia Fire seem to be outperforming the rest. 

It's an interesting field to watch and I can't wait to harvest it. Today, however, it's tomatoes and peppers.