So this is the time of year when we start asking when cooler weather will get here, or at least some rain.   As you see in the photo below…it is way too hot to be out messing with the plants.  The plants don’t want to be messed with any more than we do in this kind of heat. We actually had to update this photo 3 times as the temperature climbed. (Update #4: temp is now 111.2! We’re not taking another picture, it’s too depressing.)

Life on the farm has finally returned to normal after the storms. Here’s to hoping we don’t have to go through that again! Although the weather alert is already going off about strong storms later today……Sigh!

The heat and lack of rain is a concern here. As we mentioned earlier, the first bean planting has been decimated by the double whammy of storm damage and then heat and lack of rain. This was once a lush bean patch:

Fortunately we have replacements coming along.

The kale and chard have also suffered:

Dying kale

Wilting Swiss chard

The chard will recover if we get some rain (our irrigation obviously isn’t enough) but we have already started replacements for the kale. We will see them again in the fall. The chickens are still protesting the heat by reducing their laying. Like that’s going to help!

So, how do we prepare our plants for the hot weather without draining our well dry? In one word: mulch. After we plant we put a layer of mulch at least 3-4 inches thick all around. This helps with weed suppression so the plants don’t have to compete for water, slows down evaporation, and helps keep the roots cooler. Throughout the season the mulch will gradually break down and by next year will help increase the organic content of our soils.



Mulched peppers



In tomato news, they are growing like gangbusters:



This trellis is 6 feet tall



Now we just wait for the tomatoes to ripen:

The heat has stopped the growth of the onions and caused the tops to die off (this is normal). We have pulled them all and they are curing in the barn, so from now on all onions in the shares will be in various stages of drying. Our two main crop onions are Italian heirlooms, Borrettana Cipollini (white) and Red Marble (red). These onions do not get big and are shaped like a button. They are on the sweeter side, so they will not store as well as some of the stronger varieties, but they are better for fresh eating.

Well, at least this hot weather that is forcing us to stay inside during the afternoons is allowing us to get a head start on some of the Fall succession plantings without feeling like we are taking time away from that dreaded task of weeding. This is called “looking on the bright side”. How does that work for you?

Stay cool in your own personal patch of shade,

Jeff and Sandra