It is 90 outside at noon 'feels like 93' because that's what it does, can't blame the humidity, it's only 43%. We closed up almost two hours ago when it was 85 and am glad we did. Had to run to the store so didn't get out to the garden until noon, watered quickly, picked two tomatoes and high tailed it back into the apartment.
Last night checking on things and had to do a hand comparison on the cucumbers. Then scraped the mulch away and it was still dark and moist underneath.
Compared to noon today, leaves wilted from the heat and looking dry as popcorn. Which is why I watered anyway. That mulch layer isn't that thick and wasn't taking any chances for another 8 hours of heat on those plants.
The problem bushes. For all the world that south bed looks like it is drying up. The north bush seems to be looking better now but the fruit is still rough and dull looking. I watered everything just because that's the default in weather like this.
Doesn't look much different from week and a half ago (bottom picture) other than the middle bush has changed position. Sigh. Just tempted to dig everything out but then what? Not going to plant more tomatoes. Not going to plant much of anything there until I figure out what the problem is.
Even the little zinnias were wilting and I also saw this large tomato with holes in it. I decided to pick it and find out what was in there. Unfortunately, the holes didn't go very far and I ruined a perfectly good tomato. Oh well. Interestingly it was turning pink on the inside core so it would have ripened around the holes anyway.
That north bed has to stay there until they finally give up the ghost. That sunflower is a promise and need to keep that going until it blooms so I can take the flower back to the little girl that entrusted it to me to grow.
Still trying to figure out what I'm going to plant there. I've been advised not to plant potatoes in the ground after tomatoes as they're both in the nightshade family. It gets full sun even in winter due to the sun angle. It obviously has a water retention issue or something. I will definitely be adding more soil to build it up a bit. If I can find boards that are taller I'll take out the plastic edging and put in boards to add height. Unless I can get another piece of trellis doing peas there is not an option. I'll be doing lettuce and root crops in the raised bed and south bed (if I keep it).
More lettuce I suppose, different types. I can put the potato crate there at least so that will take up about half the space. The radishes did okay last year but due to planting too late they flopped this year. If I make the soil deeper carrots and radishes would work I suppose. So I guess this would be my root crop bed for the winter.
Can't wait for cooler weather so I can get out there and prep everything.
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