Fenton Friday: Hot Enough for Ya?

Last weekend, we had good soaking rains. Then the week started off hot, but that was nothing compared to the heat wave that has since set. We are experiencing record temps. It is 100 F as I write this.

Before the worst of the heat arrived, we weeded and spread wood chips on the inner and front paths of the plot. Next week, we may get the wood chips along the side and back paths. 

I planted the "seed potatoes" of Potato 'Purple Majesty' in a potato grow bag. They had all already sprouted, but I hope they survive the transfer.

The African Marigold 'Lanna Lace' has one flower, and the 'Citrine' Tomato is surprisingly continuing to produce more fruit -- most tomatoes slow down pt pause in this heat stress.

 

The Okra 'Puerto Rico Everblush' and Squash 'Thriller' seedlings all tripled in size. The Heirloom Pole Beans 'Rich Purple Pod' are up and almost 18 inches tall after just one week.

I harvested three Blackberries, all of which have bird damage. Not really worth eating, but I figured it was best to remove them to direct the plant's energy into ripening the green berries still on the plant.

I cut more Dahlia flowers and was able to snip a few early Lisianthus blooms to put in bud vases.

In the pollinator garden strip, the dwarf Sunflower is blooming along with the Borage (see photo at top). The Marigolds are also flowering well in this heat. 

I'm watering every other day. I may need to increase to daily unless we get a good storm over this holiday weekend.

Next week, I still need to get the Pepper seedlings in and plant the Cosmos seeds. The Nasturtium seeds never came up, so we will look at replacing those.

What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).