So Cool! Heavenly day

17 years ago

It is 78 and breezy(northerly) at 10 am. I am certainly hoping it brings in a rain, if not for me for those who need it even worse than I do.

Dawn, I hope the new gardeners read your remarks about Ok having two distinct growing seasons separated by midsummer heat. I have been noticing that some people are talking about having lettuce, beets, radishes in July in Ok and as you know that is a recipe for disaster. I always plan to have all the early stuff out by July, even the lettuce sold as "heat tolerant" only lasts through June for me. And I usually wait until mid-Sept to plant fall stuff unless it cools down and rains in early Sept. This year tho I will plant bush beans in Late Aug if I have to water them.

And Dawn, the okra that I planted in solarized soil like you described last year is doing great so far. I am going to solarize more of the garden this year. I would love to be able to raise potatoes without scab. Dorothy

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Comments (3)

Okiedawn OK Zone 7
17 years ago
Hi Dorothy!

I want to whine and stomp my foot and demand "Where is MY cold front?" LOL

It is 100 degrees here with a heat index of 105 and no rain yet. I THOUGHT we were supposed to be around 93 to 95 degrees here today. Well, even though 100 and "feels like 105" is no picnic, it is better than 106 and "feels like 116", which is what we had last week.

And, yes, I have noticed that some folks are planting their cool season crops while the soil and air are still too hot. I'll repost the fall planting dates and maybe that will help clarify things.

I am glad solarizing your soil worked. I hope to solarize some of my beds soon. I've been to too many fires and wrecks in the last week and my routine is all messed up and I am behind, behind, behind.

I bet if you solarize your soil, it might take care of your potato scab, unless your soil pH is just not what potatoes like. Also, I think there are some potatoes that
are scab-resistant (of course, that does not mean scabproof!) and if I can think of which one or ones are scab-resistant, I'll let you know.

I hope your DH is feeling well, and of course, hope the rest of y'all are well too.

Dawn
mulberryknob
Original Author
17 years ago
I sure hope it gets to you. We didn't get any rain here in Western Adair Co, but the eastern part of the co did. My parents 16 miles away, got 1/2" and DH said that he bet an inch fell in Lowell Ark where he works--62 miles away NE. But at least it was cool today.

Yes DH is doing better. He is on Levadopa/carbidopa plus some supplements that he feels help as much as the meds. I learned something else interesting. I have always known that he is red/green colorblind. Statistically, men with this genetic trait have a higher incidence of Parkinson's. Now if they can figure out why, maybe they will know how to prevent it.

I need to pay more attention to the soil temps. I usually just plant by the date and air temp, but sometimes stuff doesn't do well. I do want more beets and bush beans this year. I used to have a soil thermometer. Need to buy another one, if I can find one. Dorothy
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7
17 years ago
Dorothy,

A tiny smidgen of rain has fallen here--less than 1/20th of an inch so far, but a friend in the northern part of Love County (near the Greenville/Overbrook area) got 1/2" a couple of hours ago, so I keep hoping. What we got was a grassfire started by a dry lightning strike. It just figures, doesn't it!

I'm glad DH is doing better. I always think of y'all when I hear the latest info on Parkinson's research mentioned on the news. That is interesting about red/green colorblindness being linked to a higher incidence of Parkinson's in men.....it helps drive home the point that there is obviously a genetic link, doesn't it?

Don't waste your money on a soil thermometer.....you can use an ordinary old meat thermometer (not the fancy instant-read type)! I know, because I have both, and used them both, and they registered the same. I keep my "garden" meat thermometer in a labeled ziplock bag so DH or DS won't use it as a meat thermometer!

Our soil temps have been scarey during the heat wave, with unmulched soil reaching 120 to 140! I won't be sorry to see this summer end.

Dawn