Like the rest of the country, we have been undergoing a hot summer (or, as we used to call it in the old days, "summer"). We have had no hint of rain since 04 July. As you can imagine, this has rather put a strain on the garden and the outside yard in general. We have not yet entered the realm of watering restrictions - but I hate paying for watering the lawn, so every year at this time we limp along with one watering a week (the real solution would be an automatic sprinkler system, but I have neither the money nor the inclination to install one).
Then, between Friday night and Sunday afternoon, we received 1.6 inches (4.06 cm).
I love the rain of course (other than the humidity, which will return as soon as the clouds disappear). But this is wretchedly hard on the plants. My garden is going through gyrations trying to keep up (or really, what is left: sorghum is mostly harvested and the black peas maybe reaching their end. Only the tomato plant with its curled leaves and two fruit and the ever producing jalapeno pepper are carrying on.
Gardening: It is not for the weak of heart.
Just a small scale farm..
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Nope, TB; gardening and farming is NOT simply a matter of planting seeds and waiting to enjoy the harvest. Where I live, it's hot as hell EVERY summer, and we learn to work around that. This July/August, however, would make the devil sigh. Nothing produced as it should have, except the tomatoes. Even the zucchinis, which usually bombard us with produce, fizzled out.
ReplyDeleteGive Roma tomatoes a try next year. Mine survived and THRIVED in 113* heat! The Beefsteak and Early Girl varieties grew to become HUGE plants (like 6ft tall HUGE), but produced absolutely nothing but an elevated water bill. The three Romas I planted produced enough fruit for us and whoever we could give them to, and still left enough to throw at the TV when CNN is on!
Anyone who thinks "If the SHTF, I'll just plant a garden" will be dead long before they taste their first fruit!...
Linda, I have got to up my game and soon. This handful of vegetables, while sort of mentally pleasing, will not get the jog done.
ReplyDeleteYou are right (as always) Pete. And this year was (overall) one of my better years. I just need to work on growing what will grow - I have an Old Home garden mentality and not everything has translated.
ReplyDeleteI will try Romas. I had great luck with them before moved, not so much now. But a brilliant tomato - so very useful for so many things.
Yes. The "Garden Only When The Grid Goes Down" are in for a rather horrible shock...