Cross-posted at Lost Valley Gardens.
We have been keeping busy with harvesting, progression planting, fall crop planting and fall and winter crop planning. July is the critical time to get certain fall crops such as tomato, pepper, okra, and eggplant transplants in the ground to assure production before cold weather sets in. We also need to get pumpkins and winter squash direct seeded soon. It seems strange, but comforting, to be thinking about fall and cold weather whilst in the midst of such a prolonged heat spell as we have been experiencing here since late April. I know that the heat and drought will continue for many more weeks, however, fall will arrive. It will rain again. And it will cool off. It's nice that my job requires me to look forward and plan for the future as one of its critical components. I am constantly reminded of the ever-changing, transient nature of life.
Despite the sweltering temperatures and the dearth of rain our harvests continue to increase in both quantity and variety each week.
This is very encouraging, however we are going to some pretty extreme measures to keep our crops producing and to allow us to plant seedlings in this extreme heat. These measures include tenting and shading crops from the afternoon sun and shading seedlings from direct sun altogether for now. This makes the garden rather unsightly, but the results are really remarkable. Here in the central Texas hill country our temperatures are averaging about 102 F every day, with lows around 74 F. At these temperatures only cherry, plum and grape tomatoes will set fruit, and it appears green beans will not produce beans at all - they bloom but never produce a bean. Shading does not change this situation, but the swiss chard which was all but dead before shading has completely revived and even the broccoli is putting out some shoots.
We set out about forty tomato transplants, thirty pepper transplants and ten okra transplants over the past couple of weeks. The tomatoes are all large red slicers and there are a variety of peppers - sweet green and red bell, jalapeno, anaheim, poblano. We are keeping these guys tented all the time.
We have a nice selection of herbs ready to plant as well. I started to plant these today before I came inside to flee the heat.
I have been amazed at how well my super-enriched, double-dug garden bed test has been going. The first bed that I prepared in this way was planted with transplants, all of which are doing wonderfully and are producing steadily. The second bed was direct seeded five weeks ago with zucchini, yellow squash, pole beans and blackeye peas. Yesterday I harvested the first yellow squash from this bed. The yield was over 4 pounds and I left many small squash on the vines!
The zucchini are also producing and the blackeye peas are blooming. The pole beans look good but aren't even blooming yet
Based on our current production level and projected fall production volume we have decided to open our CSA doors and are starting to sign up a very limited number of members for the fall season! We have been distributing sample shares to friends and neighbors that have expressed an interest in joining our CSA and the reception has been nothing short of resoundingly positive. It is so gratifying to see how much folks appreciate fresh, high quality vegetables and fruits. There is nothing more satisfying to me than providing people with things that delight them and also contribute to their health and well-being.
Hope your summer is going well!
Carol