+90 Degrees not Good

Yesterday’s temperature was above 90 degrees. This causes the pollen that forms in some blossoms to deformed and prevents successful pollination. Tomatoes and corn are especially susceptible. Fortunately most of the corn is not yet blooming. There is no corn in our garden this year. It was too much of a temptation for the deer. The tomatoes are blooming. I think the high temperatures are the reason for last year’s poor tomato crop.

The sugar pea harvest has diminished to almost nothing. There are new blooms however so perhaps there will be more sugar peas. The vines still look healthy. They are almost 6’ tall. Usually by this time of year they are starting to get a little ratty. The squash are doing really well, but this morning one plant was laying on its side. The root system still seems to be well attached. Hopefully it will stand up by the afternoon.

The cucumbers have climbed about a foot on their fences. There are no blooms yet. Of the six grapevines only 1 has grapes. That is the same one that had grapes last year. The fig trees are loaded with little figs. Maybe we can make fig wine.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/