Willamette Valley Oregon, Zone 8b
The forecast on this Mother’s Day Weekend has temperatures soaring up to the nineties. Although we can expect relief on Sunday.
Sun Protection for Cool Season Crops
Water and shade is in order for any cool season crops in direct sun. I’m watering deeply in the morning and shallow in the afternoon. This will keep shallow roots hydrated, it will also cool the soil and the plant. I also put up a shade cloth on my carrot bed to protect the babies beneath. However, lettuce greens, beets, broccoli, peas, would also appreciate shade if you can rig it up.
Warm Season Transplanting and Sowing
Normally, I would finish transplanting and sowing my warm season crops (squash, melons, cucumbers, beans, etc) this weekend. But, I’m going to play it safe and only plant half of them. That way I have back-ups if they get scorched. They have been hardened off, (spending more and more time outside), which should give them decent odds of survival. If you are in the process of hardening off, make sure they stay moist, and watch for sun scorching, which blanches the leaves white.
It should be safe to sow beans this weekend. Soaking them in water overnight will jump-start the germination process. Keep the soil moist. It’s supposed to cool off, but no rain in the next week forecast. Plant pole beans about one hand-span apart (across the knuckles) and bush beans about the length of your index finger to your wrist apart. When they start to emerge make sure to include some slug traps (these ones work great, or you can make your own) or lightly sprinkle Sluggo. Slugs love felling young beans like tiny, mucous-ey, beavers.
Second Breakfast Gardens 