The weather did cool down in August and September overall, but we still get some hot days. Then we had a cold 3 days in early September and I think the plants are quite confused. The overall plants look very worn but then there are new little sprouts of leaves and flower buds. Most of the butternut and zucchini starts ended up turning yellow and shriveling- maybe the cool nights? I also had to skip 2 fertilization weeks because it was simply too hot so maybe that was it. Who knows? I do succession plants (plant again as soon as I harvest) so maybe it was the nutrients.
The pumpkins are probably the best looking plants out there. They are sweet eating/pie making pumpkins so not too big. I figured a big pumpkin would not have enough time to grow completely before it got too cold. The tomatoes look horrendous and pretty dead but still produce. The Black Cherry tomatoes still give 15 or so little guys a week even though they truly look 80% dead and the full sized one has two nice looking more than half sized green tomatoes growing on it. The pepper plant is just funny looking since it isn’t even a foot tall with two almost full sized bell peppers on it. Luckily they are opposite each other so the plant can stay upright!
Many of the flowers are looking great. I typically choose more drought tolerant flowers anyway so they did survive the psychotic weather. Even the deck plants are hanging in there but I am having to water twice a day!
Dave and I went to the Fair Oaks Horticultural Center to meet with the Master Gardeners and so we will have to determine how this changes everything for next year. That and the newer bigger garden area in Wilton. Gardening is my peaceful place for sure.