What do I do about the heat?

bvarbel 6/7/2013, 5:07 pm

The heat has taken a toll on my garden. In the spring when it was warm and sunny but not 95+ F the garden was thriving. Now I've had 2 weeks of 95+ F temps (today over 100) and everything looks tired.

I've been giving the garden plenty of water. My bush beans just shriveled up. The tomatoes seem to love it though.

brainchasm 6/7/2013, 5:34 pm

At this point, heavy mulching might be your only gambit.

**camprn** 6/7/2013, 5:38 pm

Another thing to consider is a different time of year for the type of crop you wish to grow. What are the farmers in your area growing now?

bvarbel 6/7/2013, 5:50 pm

camprn wrote:Another thing to consider is a different time of year for the type of crop you wish to grow. What are the farmers in your area growing now?

Wow...I've written off the next 3-4 months since I live in major desert heat May through September.

I will research what farmers are growing out here. I have some empty squares.

No_Such_Reality 6/7/2013, 6:00 pm

Watermelons,
Honeydews
Canary Melons
Christmas melons
real Cantaloupes
Okra
Sweet Potatoes
Jicama
Pumpkins,
Squashes
Zucchinis
Cucumbers with shade cloth
and tomatoes.

You're the southwestern tip of the Mojave Desert, but the once lush Owens valley is also the same microclimate.

southern gardener 6/7/2013, 6:10 pm

Maybe go the the "Back to Eden" thread, and read about the mulching methods. It seems to be really helping others with the heat/watering issues. Good luck to you........

HiDesert 6/7/2013, 7:39 pm

I'm having the same problem as you. I ordered some of that mylar reflective mulch(film) that was discussed in another thread on here so I'm hoping that'll help keep the temperatures down at the root level for the summer.

**sanderson** 6/7/2013, 8:03 pm

Fresno here and bouncing around 100 degrees. Saturday is predicted to be 106 so I mulched earlier this week with playground bark. What a difference it has made already. Less water plus cooler MM under the bark. The bark is light colored, so I am sure that is a plus, and wood is a good insulation product. I will stick my neck out and say "Mulch is mandatory for hot zones."

brainchasm 6/8/2013, 12:24 pm

HiDesert wrote:I'm having the same problem as you. I ordered some of that mylar reflective mulch(film) that was discussed in another thread on here so I'm hoping that'll help keep the temperatures down at the root level for the summer.

The real trick, I found, for that mylar mulch is getting it to stay flat and in place! If you look at it funny, it wants to blow around/away or fold in half, or bunch up.

I haven't decided yet whether to stake it down, or try weighting it down, or what. Plus, in an established garden, getting plants through the holes you cut is...an interesting exercise.

HiDesert 6/8/2013, 2:31 pm

brainchasm wrote:
HiDesert wrote:I'm having the same problem as you. I ordered some of that mylar reflective mulch(film) that was discussed in another thread on here so I'm hoping that'll help keep the temperatures down at the root level for the summer.
The real trick, I found, for that mylar mulch is getting it to stay flat and in place! If you look at it funny, it wants to blow around/away or fold in half, or bunch up.

I haven't decided yet whether to stake it down, or try weighting it down, or what. Plus, in an established garden, getting plants through the holes you cut is...an interesting exercise.

Ha ha, not looking forward to putting it down on a established garden and cutting circles around the plants but I think it'll be worth it. I got some some earth staples that i'm going to use to secure it to the ground.

littlejo 6/8/2013, 9:10 pm

brainchasm wrote:
HiDesert wrote:I'm having the same problem as you. I ordered some of that mylar reflective mulch(film) that was discussed in another thread on here so I'm hoping that'll help keep the temperatures down at the root level for the summer.
The real trick, I found, for that mylar mulch is getting it to stay flat and in place! If you look at it funny, it wants to blow around/away or fold in half, or bunch up.

I haven't decided yet whether to stake it down, or try weighting it down, or what. Plus, in an established garden, getting plants through the holes you cut is...an interesting exercise.

I'm having lots of heat and rain. I mulch heavily for the summer.

Just had to comment on your weather at bottom of your page!
High-108
Low-82

Current-111

They are not keeping up with the 'High' temps
Trying to keep you cooler!

brainchasm 6/8/2013, 11:50 pm

I just went and got a bunch of big chunk Ponderosa pine bark chips.

Is this a normal/acceptable mulch? I wanted that light/pale playground wood, but no one had it. Mad

**sanderson** 6/9/2013, 12:01 am

Brainchasm, 109 degrees here today. I think my playground bark is pine, also. I LOVE my mulch. Plants in the sun survived the ultimate test today. (temp wise) Even if your product is kind of chunky, anything will help the plants. Try the local school district and see if they use playground bark. If they do, maybe they can give you contact info. The supplier may supply some local small box business. Meanwhile, you got bark.

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