Gardnerh

Here we Go Again…..Heatwave

Last autumn, we evacuated because of wildfires in the area. Our property was safe, but the vegetable garden was devastated by the days and days of smoke and ash.

The winter brought record snow and ice to the area – we got the ice. Trees came down, branches broke, fences were smashed and we were without electricity for nine days.

Spring was fairly uneventful, although I’m not sure that being in the middle of a global pandemic is ever uneventful.

Now it’s summer (the first week of summer) and we have a heat wave that may destroy record high temperatures by almost 10 degrees. In addition to the heat, the above 90˚ for eleven days. The thing to remember about the forecast temperatures below is that this is Oregon City, Oregon – a fairly maritime climate. This area has never seen temperatures above 107˚.

So, what have we done to try to prepare for this heat wave?

  • I brought potted plants into the garage, watered them well and put them under a grow light.
  • I moved the other potted plants up against the north side of the house which doesn’t get direct sun.
  • In the garden I put extra mulch around the summer squash and garlic.
  • I covered the beans, winter squash, Napa cabbage and carrots and beets with frost covers (I don’t have any shade cloth).
  • I think I’ll just harvest the lettuce, leeks and other greens in the morning before they all bolt – I found the storing them in the crisper in damp, muslin bags keeps them fresher longer.
  • We picked up a second mister for the hens and will put a small fan in their coop at night.
  • We’ve been watering the grassy part of the chicken run and they have some shade all day.
  • Hubby also put a kiddy pool with just a little water in the chicken run.
  • We topped off the bird baths and added a few additional saucers of water into shady spots for the birds, squirrels and bunnies.
  • We also put water in a big feed trough for the deer that walk through.
  • We’ll probably water a shady spot in the hedge row they can use to cool off. I also put a couple of really shallow trays for water in the garden for the bees.
  • We have a few patio umbrellas, but I’m using them to shade the AC compressor and the dog run (they’ll be inside, but I don’t want sore paws from poo time).