Hoooboy its hot... plants are okay.

 Supposed to get to 90 by 1pm, it's 11:30 am and already 89. So it's on track for being 90 in less than an hour. Already got out to the garden and did walkies got my shower went back out to the garden to spot water. I then was trying to make a shade structure using pieces of bark and my eye fell on the bucket of mulch.

I picked it up, dusted it off and made sure it was clean before putting it back in.

So the cucumbers have been unmolested overnight other than leaf miners more tomatoes are coloring up so the harvest is coming soon. Here and there but they'll all be picked and used for sure, or traded.

 

Wish my eyes were better and I had a UV light to go caterpillar hunting. Frass on a leaf and the reason right above it. I used to be able to find caterpillars really well but given how much foliage is here I think even at my best it would be hard to find them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decided to pick these two small ones off the middle bush, it's all good really. Bigger ones are coming on the other bushes. 

Now then, about that mulch bucket. First I watered pretty well where it was needed then I pulled out all the containers and stuff I had put in there since I don't have a place for them. I then used the scoop and distributed it around the cucumbers to where the shade lines were of the two bushes. Oh, forgot I picked the last two green onions before that.

Before and after mulching. Not much difference visually but I put about an inch of mulch on there to keep that hot spot mice and moist. I likely won't have to water for at least two days, maybe more. Good thing about this mulch is it's already breaking down in the bottom so I'll be able to just dump everything in one of the beds and mix it up.

 Even the zinnias and sunflower got some mulch so that helps not to overwater the tomatoes and now that I remember, I need to give them all a shower of calcium today or tomorrow. Likely to happen tomorrow. So yay, got to use my own mulch and cut back on heat stress with the plants. Yes it's hot but as long as the roots are cool there is less issue with them tolerating the heat.

In other garden news, Dolores has brought in more plants, it's turning into quite the garden production now. She has soil in the long planter box now on top of the leaves and whatever else she had in there.

Yes the roses are coming back but they didn't have to be stressed by a severe pruning. They have some flower buds and I suspect the only reason they're doing okay in this heat with new leaves is by the grace of that shade.

I paused writing due to errands and just happened to be able to go back to the library. I picked up some poblanos and yellow straight neck squash. No radishes unfortunately and I should have really picked the butter lettuce instead for the fall/winter coming up. I'll be going back in another week I hope and see if they have fall seeds and maybe pick up the butter head lettuce. They had a lot of carrots still, of course. Oh and this time it was a young man behind the counter and he gave me the entire seed packet rather than a few into an envelope. I was hoping for radishes and maybe some sage or oregano but no luck. I smiled seeing that the cilantro was sold out. I have more than enough thanks. Oh! I almost picked out the tomatillos! Totally forgot but I just don't have room for everything I want to grow.

 

Another thing I noticed is the planting and maturity times. Poblanos take 10-20+ days to germinate and 70+ days to maturity. Let's say I decide to rip out the center tomato in the north bed and plant these out there instead. We have at least two months, if not more, of hot weather still. That's only about 60-70 days. It's possible to do it now and still have a harvest in the supposed fall.

Now the squash on the other hand first needs a LOT of room. Like the entire north bed. As much as I would love to have those now, it is too late. They will germinate faster at 3-10+ days and only 50 days to maturity. So in theory, if I had the room I could still plant these out. By the time the tomatoes are done it is going to be way late for either of these so will have to wait until next year for them. Squash traditionally doesn't do well in the fall even if it's in full sun the chance of mildew goes up drastically. Might still give one a chance in that north bed.

Let's see, in order of appearance for fall/winter/spring: lettuce, green onions, radishes, carrots, cilantro in the raised bed. No peas, they were fun but I don't really eat peas or beans. North bed is iffy but again lettuce (might pick up another variety at the library), green onions, cilantro and radishes.  Depending on whether Dolores remembers I am giving her the south bed I won't be considering that but still have the crate for potatoes that I have to find a spot for. Might have to clear the corner out really well but that doesn't get a lot of sun. Better spot would be where the larger log pile is. Sorry lizards you may be having new quarters at the end of the garden.

So next year for summer it will be two tomatoes on the trellis (3?), onions a poblano or two hopefully two bell pepper and of course cilantro. All that is left is the north bed for two of the squash because those need to be planted 12" apart and are likely 2 or more feet wide. So yeah.... 

I really need that entire garden area to myself. Hahaha!