
A strange summer
What a vegetable garden year, 2021. What was supposed to be a beautiful summer became one of abundant rain, wind gusts and exceptionally a ray of sunshine. Many people are worried about tomatoes that have turned brown. Whether they can still be saved. Unfortunately, this usually indicates the fungus, Phytophtora infestans, which is very persistent and can ruin your tomato crop in no time. Or there are vegetable gardeners with white deposits on the leaves of their zucchini and pumpkin plants. In this case it is mildew, a fungus that prevents the photosynthesis and thus the energy supply of the plants from running smoothly. Others, in turn, suffered from snail infestation. Because of the wet weather, snails like to move to your crops and eat everything bare in no time. Especially crops with tender and tasty leaves, such as lettuce, chard and fresh herbs, have to suffer.
Why a greenhouse in a rainy summer?
A greenhouse protects your plants from strong winds and rain. Moreover, thanks to the greenhouse, the sun’s rays become even better and more efficient: on a rainy summer day, one ray of sunshine is enough to raise the temperature to 30 degrees or more, ideal for growing crops that like it hot like red pointed peppers, sweet potatoes, peppers and tomatoes. By using an ACD® thermometer, I can accurately track how warm it has become during the day (maximum temperature), but I can also see at a glance what the temperature has been during the night. These temperatures are automatically recorded, and by an easy push on the reset button, the values are set back to zero. Handy right?
The vegetable garden in August
More from Sofie Maes
Resolutions
When I woke up this morning, it seemed like the sun was rising a little faster than it did a few weeks ago. It's starting to itch: I want to go outside. Sow. Sprouting. Watching everything grow.
Read moreAutumn is coming
For many people, autumn also means the end of the vegetable garden season. Plants that like it warm, such as pointed peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants stop growing first.
Read morePre-sowing
I can't fit all the vegetable garden plants inside, otherwise we won't be able to sit at the breakfast table soon because it's filled with trays and pots of all shapes and sizes. So I use my ACD® greenhouse as a pre-sowing place.
Read more