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Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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This is the first time we have not been eating at least cherry tomatoes by now from the unheated greenhouse. So far though the tomatoes have been loaded with blossoms, they just shrivel up and drop off, not one tomato has formed. This morning, again, it was only 51F overnight, and tomatoes like 55-85 to produce fruit. The greenhouse stays only 1-2 degrees warmer than the outside air. This is also the first year that I have not shut off the furnace for the summer, as it's still coming on at 5am for an hour or so.
The bell peppers have also suffered, in fact from mid-May when I planted them, they stayed healthy looking but never grew a bit until the end of June, and are just now showing a few little buds.
Then there are the cucumbers - until this weekend I have had as many as 12 female blossoms, with no male. That may not have anything to do with the weather, however. Since I hand pollinate in the greenhouse it's been really frustrating to have those tiny little cucs shrivel up for lack of pollination. Finally this morning there are two males and 6 females.
You and a couple others are proving it to be a tough year for gardening there in the NorthWest U.S. As a Weathernut and always looking at maps, weather, and discussions, I can tell you that the Jet stream has been dipping a lot there this summer. That basically means cooler Canadian air drops south. The mid levels of the atmosphere is colder than normal. And obviously affecting gardening. It's mid summer now so its not like you have to worry about freezes (unless you're above 6,000') but even like you said, low 50s is not great for the warm weather crops.
Still time, hope it changes for you guys.
For Spokane check it out. So I am seeing what you are saying for sure.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,551 posts, read 81,085,957 times
Reputation: 57744
We don't have to worry about freezes but we are at 600' on a plateau, so it's always cooler here by as much as 5-6 degrees compared to those closer to sea level, even a mile away down the hills.
In SW Washington, we have had a cool summer so far. We are finally due to warm up this week. But past forecasts of summer warmth have not panned out. So, really, who knows. My daylilies bloomed a little later than usual, which is way better than blooming in May!
Crazy weather everywhere this year. I'm in SW Florida where our daily heat & humidity is relieved for a little while when we get our daily thunderstorms. We haven't had a good rainstorm in weeks and that is very unusual here.
I normally never have to water from June-September and I planted a new tree and some bushes at the beginning of June thinking they would get plenty of water from Mother Nature.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,551 posts, read 81,085,957 times
Reputation: 57744
Quote:
Originally Posted by silibran
In SW Washington, we have had a cool summer so far. We are finally due to warm up this week. But past forecasts of summer warmth have not panned out. So, really, who knows. My daylilies bloomed a little later than usual, which is way better than blooming in May!
Our daylillies are just blooming now. Yesterday we got up to 77F, but now this morning it's down to 49.
lol. Question is.. will you or do remember every location every year?
Nothing crazy happening here, move north.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Threerun
It was 44 deg here this morning and quite green. Last year around this time we were evacuating due to a wildfire behind our property.
Chilly. I can't wait for fall actually. Summer is the only season I can live without.
BTW - Seattle not one day this month had an above normal high temp yet.
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