I would like to start with the garlic. The mulch on the soil is probably not to blame for the dark discolouration on the stalk. It is usually the Verticillium dahliae fungus that is causing the plants problems. This fungus wreaks havoc in the soil. It is never a good idea to plant garlic without good neighbours. Standing alone, it remains susceptible to disease.
The spinach leaves are almost too big. They should be harvested regularly so that the spinach plant develops more vigorously and produces more tasty leaves.
If the tomatoes are left in the bed at this point, I would provide climbing support as early as possible. If you wait too long, you run the risk of damaging the roots later when inserting the stakes. You should always cover the soil with plenty of nettle leaves. The same applies to cabbages. This provides food and helps against pests.
Finally, asparagus. It seems to me that these are very young plants (first or second year), as they immediately develop the typical asparagus haulm - but no eatable asparagus. If this is the case, the young plants should be transplanted to the area where they will produce a good harvest for the next 15 years (or even longer). Asparagus only comes to light with the edible stalk in the 3rd year. Consumers need to be patient until then. Asparagus is greedy for water. The plant's root system spreads out more and more each year, which leads to a better harvest. So don't plant them too close together.
RE: Annuals garden update May 2025