I am sorry that you are having such a rough time with your weather. My spring was too wet but that was relatively short lived and nothing like your dry heat issues.
What is the soil in your raised beds? What issues do you think you're having(PH, drainage,etc.)? Post some pics we might be able to help.
Well they grow millions of pounds of green chile less than 25 miles from here. It's grown in open fields with no stakes for wind, no shade cloth, and no Promix. LOL I know it is just going to take some practice and experience before I figure out all the answers.
I noticed that my container plants that only got pure High Quality potting soil are doing much better than the ones I mixed 75/25 with compost. The raised beds were amended with probably 30 - 35 percent compost. Drainage seems to be fine but I think the PH is way off. Actually I planted basil and fennel next to the peppers and they took off, my chile plants just sit there and look pathetic. The aphids had a lot to do with it but after seeing the difference in the container plants the compost may be too hot. Should be good for next year hopefully. I will get some pic up this evening.
I'm not sure how to add humidity to your area, but I would put a good layer of mulch on the raised bed and potted plants. I would think that would help hold in the moisture. I can't remember if you did that already to the raised beds. Also, maybe hit them all with a good misting in the evenings. I'm glad you updated, I was wondering how you were doing.
I am wondering about the mulch myself. I kind of like the evaporation as it allows me to water every day. I actually can go almost 3 days right now before they start to look stressed. If I mulch I might start over watering with all the retained moisture. Sound like I need to do an experiment. The local farmers suggested watering everyday in the heat of the day to help keep them cool. I am at work during that time but water before I leave and usually mist them in the evening. They are doing much better than last year when I let them go 3 days between watering. I do like the cooling effect the mulch has on the soil. I think I will throw in some hay and see what happens. I am thinking even a white disc cut out of cardboard or plastic would help lower temp with out retaining a bunch of moisture.
Did the aphid dance myself... looks like they are all gone now.
I have a bottle of Acetamiprid I am holding off using until I absolutely have too. If they come back in force, I am going to nuke them.
Great looking plants Beagle! Figuring out the weather/ heat is not easy for sure. The shade cloth structures I built for my raised beds has not only lower the temps at the mulch soil level but I believe also increased humidity. I hope there will be even more benefits when I get the mist cooling lines put in.
Good luck to you
Mike
I will be watching to see what happens with your experiments. They look very promising. I have a shade structure on my raised beds but it was not being used for shade. It was being used for wind protection. Now I am converting it back to a shade structure. 103+ temps forecast for Tuesday thru Saturday.
Good to see an update Michael.
A lot of your plants look just like mine--recovering.
I'll second the mulch idea to help keep the moisture in. Misting the leaves is a great idea too.
Best of luck to you bro.
Hi Patrick, great to hear from you. I did find another AISPES Yellow Morouga Scorpion that is doing OK but all the Chocolates are pretty pathetic. I think I will try some different things. White Cardboard, white plastic and hay for mulch. And I think I can talk my boys into misting my plants for me every night. ANY chance to use the hose is a win win for them.
When I lived in West Texas, I often misted myself...just to survive.
Ahhh those kind of statements always seem to make me laugh .. thanks CA. At least we can mist ourselves... I will still take my weather any day over Florida or Louisiana or South-East Texas where they get the 95 -100 degrees and 85% humidity. Now that is truly miserable.
I used to live in San Diego, thats why I ask. I heard about them if those are they.
