The changing of the calendar now reminds us that fall, with its hot apple cider and pumpkin spice, is just around the corner, but somehow that seems unimaginable as these dog days of summer just go on and on and on. Not much has changed from last month in that regard. As was the case in July, some of the spring plants are still holding on- some barely by a thread at this point, but not so with the Armenian cucumbers. It doesn’t matter what Mother Nature throws at them. They seem to be up to the challenge, daring to produce even more the hotter it gets. We’ve been able to provide various non profit agencies with pound after pound of these cucumbers to help feed those in need. Another hero in the garden during these hot days has been Tatume squash, a type of round zucchini that we’re trying for the first time this year due to its heat resistance. The final verdict is not yet in, but so far we like what we’ve seen. Okra, a heat lover, is in production as well, although it’s not been quite as prolific as in previous years. The first crop of figs is winding down to a handful per day. The second crop is smaller but should be ready in a couple of weeks. It’s still too early to tell about the pepper and tomato plants that we’re trying to save. Some of the peppers look as if they could be making a comeback while others seem to be saying, “That’s it. I’ve had enough! Count me out for this fall thing.” We should know by next month what the final outcome will be.

As was stated last month, much of our time during August would be spent prepping garden beds and planting a round of fall crops. Most of that has now been completed. Several of the seedlings have pushed their way up and are facing hours of scorching sun each day while we’re looking longingly for those cooler temperatures to find their way to Texas- not too cool, but temperatures that are more within the preferred range for optimal growing conditions. Unfortunately, the weather forecast doesn’t lead us to believe this will happen anytime soon.

The success of so much we attempt to do at the garden depends on reliable access to water for our plants, and we are taking steps in that direction. This month changes were made to our previous irrigation system in hopes of making that happen. In the not too distant future, we also hope to start replacing drip lines as they are beginning to show their age after years of use.

As August comes to an end, the main part of our growing season is now behind us. Each year has its challenges, like dealing with various types of insects and diseases. And somehow, when you finally figure out what to do in a particular situation and you’re ready for it, the next year it’s something totally different. Gardeners truly are lifelong learners. This year was no different except that the biggest challenge was the excessive heat, something we had little control over. We worked just as hard, maybe harder to produce as much as possible in less than ideal conditions. We are now optimistically looking forward to our fall harvest in September, October, and hopefully part of November. The same dream we had in March, the dream of a fruitful year with baskets overflowing with produce to send out into the community is still the dream we will have in September and until we’re hit with our first frost that puts an end to our fall growing season. So for now, our work continues. But when that frost does hit, we might slow down long enough to enjoy a cup of that hot apple cider.

[By Jan Green]