Sun Melon and Heat Stress.

This summer there were many sweltering days, with sometimes more than 40°C. and a burning sun in the afternoon, which seemed to scorch the garden. For a garden, such a summer is as an inverted winter, with frost and clouds. The garden stands still and waits.

To make it more bearable, I often cover the plants with a shade cloth. In many cases, it helps very well, unless the soil stays moist. This soil allows watering in the evening very well. The soil holds the moisture well fixed, so the plants have enough to use during the day.

Beetroot.

Often, the beets can do without a shadow cloth. Once they have developed a foliage, the shade cloth can go. It may be that the leaves start to droop in the heat, but that is a normal reaction, without further consequences. And the beets will get good and sweet in the sun.

Young beet plants and a cauliflower plant with a future.

And the somewhat older beet plants, without a shade cloth.

Melons.

It was this summer for the first time that I have grown melons in tubs. Three pre-cultured plantlets in a tub of 45 liters.

The first week of June 2016.

The first week of July 2016.

The first melons were delicious sweet. Often, you only eat the inner part of the melon. But these were good until the thin outer skin.

Sun melon.

Because the leaves of the melon plants started to hung flabby, I thought a shade cloth should salve this problem. Until this moment that I discovered that the melons began to lose their taste... The amount of sugars began to decline. As with the red beets, melons certainly need the sun to make sugars.
Now as I have taken off the cloth, the taste of the melons have improved greatly. The leaves of the plants show some damage, but this cannot bother a 'sun melon'... apparently.

The last week of August 2016.

Heat stress.

Meanwhile, the peas were shriveled. They did not exceed about 20 cm. and on the rebound, they produced a pod. You never know... After all, the offspring must be safeguarded... Whatever happens and whatever will come of it...

Even the Surinamese Garter beans do not look so well...

It started so nicely... and it went so well in July...

The ants have a habit of to relish the sugar around the incitement of the beans. A cheerful bunch. And no problem for the bean, when its condition is good. But as soon as the plant is weakened, we find holes in the beans. As now in August...

But as soon as the weather is getting a bit cooler the plants will revive.
For this moment we also stand still... and wait...

*

Stella.