What does a tired leaf look like?

Good. What's in them?

Anything in the ground yet, or are you still planting out?

Right. You're planted. Where are you?

Mooresville. Zone 7b. June 2nd. You're in the thick of it. How are the tomatoes looking?

Good. That's right on time for a June 2nd planting in 7b. The next few days are clear and warm — good for fruit set. Keep an eye on the heat coming Friday and Saturday. Those highs near 90 can stress flowers if the soil dries out.

Can stress the flowers. Highs near 90°F with those big temp swings can cause blossom drop if the soil moisture dips. A deep soak Thursday evening before the heat arrives would be a good move.

Then you're set. That moisture will carry them through the first hot day. Just watch the leaves Friday afternoon — if they look tired, they're telling you before the fruit does.

Slightly drooped, edges curling under, a little dull instead of glossy. Not wilted — just less alive than they were that morning.

Good. The cucumber — how's it doing?

Right on schedule. Same heat coming for them — they'll handle it better than the tomatoes, but keep that soil moisture steady. Anything else you're watching?

That's the season. Cilantro's a cool-weather plant — once the heat hits, it flowers and goes to seed. Let a few of those seed heads dry and you'll have coriander for the kitchen and volunteers for fall.

Let the seed heads turn brown and dry on the plant. Snip the whole stem, then rub the heads between your palms over a bowl. The round seeds fall out. Pick the biggest, darkest ones — they carry the most energy. Store in a paper envelope in a cool, dark spot.

Coriander holds about two years in cool, dark storage. After that, germination drops fast.

Good. You've got seed for the next turn. That's the whole game.