Dog Days of Summer

Dog Days of Summer We are now in the “Dog Days of Summer” at least out where I live.  The seasonal temperatures reach into the high 30’s and the wind is hot, like a hair-blower turned up on the ‘high’ setting.  It shrivels the leaves off the trees.  Summer veggies aren’t happening, the wind is too hot, there’s no way to protect foliage from those strong hot winds which come ripping off the lake.  Mulch helps the soil, but those winds are strong enough to tear medium sized branches from the mature spruce trees on our property which provide the 100 – 150 foot shade canapé for our house and grounds.   

During all this summer drama, I’ve planted what will be the fall crop of veggies:  broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts are started in 1″ square pots and I’ve planted peas in the garden.  By the time these are tall enough to be affected by the wind, the weather will have changed to warm days and cool evenings:  just the right sort of weather for these cool temperature loving plants.  I’ll wait until late August to put in my spinach since it matures much faster and has such a low tolerance to heat. This year I’ve grown tomatoes in pots close to the house.  They seem to be doing very well and they’re the early ripening sort – the only kind I can grow here.  I’m just starting to pick some tomatoes from these.  I should have done the same with my poor deer-bitten peppers in the upper garden.  It’s the only plant they’ve nibbled so far this year though. 

I completely lose the sun by mid to late Sept., because it moves around behind the mountain located near our house, and the mountain blocks direct sunlight from our lot during the fall and winter months, returning again beginning in March.  Timing for garden veggies is essential.  I can’t grow anything which needs sun-ripening past Sept. I must also pay a visit to our local U-Pic to buy veggies I didn’t have either the room or time to grow this year.  We’re lucky – our local U-Pic is organically grown produce, so I can confidently can up what I buy there – or freeze depending on whatever it is and how I plan to use it. 

I can never have enough tomatoes, now that I realize how easy they are to freeze and what fantastic tomato sauce they make in the winter!  Sun dried tomatoes are easy to do up from cherry tomato plants – usually wonderful producers.  Years ago I bought a small food dryer for around $30 which works fine.  In this climate I could likely just put them on an old screen and leave them in a semi-wind sheltered spot outside.  They may dry faster that way. 

Anyone reading this – how is your garden going?  Where do you live?  Comments are always very welcome.