How to save the garden from the heat

In general, of course, it is better not to save the garden, but to prepare for the heat in advance. Usually weather forecasters give a long-term forecast for the summer in the spring. And if they assume that the summer will be sultry, it is better to play it safe and sow heat-resistant varieties of vegetables. There are many of them, so you can choose according to your taste.

But if you have planted other varieties that do not tolerate heat well, there are several ways to protect the plants from the scorching heat.

Watering

In the heat, plants evaporate much more moisture – thus they cool. Therefore, they need to be watered more often.

Tomatoes. They are watered once a week, 1 liters per bush, but only until the moment when the fruits begin to sing, do not water the tomatoes at this time so that they do not crack. And it is necessary to water strictly under the root (5).

Peppers and aubergines. They need watering much more often: every 3-4 days, 3-4 liters per bush.

Cucumbers. They also need to be watered often – after each harvest, that is, every 3 to 4 days, 2,5 liters per 1 sq. m. In strong heat, refreshing watering on the leaves is useful for them – every other day or even every day, 0,5 liters per 1 sq. m.

Zucchini and squash. They need to be watered once a week, 4 liters per bush.

White cabbage. In the heat, she needs much more moisture than in cool weather: once a week, 6-10 liters per 1 sq. m. Plus, a refreshing shower on the leaves – 0,5 liters per 1 square. m. Cauliflower is also watered in the same way.

Carrots and beets. In ordinary years, they can get by with rain, but in the heat and drought they need to be watered every 2 weeks – 5 liters per 1 sq. m.

Radishes, lettuce, watercress. They need watering every 2 – 3 days, 5 liters per 1 square. m.

It is better to water all plants early in the morning with warm water.

Mulching

In the heat of the day, bare earth can heat up to 80 ° C.

Can you imagine what the plants are like there? In addition, in the heat, moisture evaporates very quickly from the soil surface. And in order to keep it there as long as possible, the beds must be mulched. And it is better to use light-colored mulches, such as sawdust of hardwood trees or straw – they will not only help reduce evaporation, but will also reflect the sun’s rays, which means that the soil will not overheat.

To save the garden from the heat, it is even better to take hay (you can use fresh grass – in the garden it will dry out on its own in a few days). Hay, among other things, is also good because, when decomposed, a facultative anaerobic (3) soil bacterium actively reproduces in it – hay bacillus, which secretes a natural antibiotic subtillin, and it inhibits the growth of pathogenic fungi, such as phytophthora, and pathogens of powdery and downy mildew .

Clay processing

This method is actively used in southern countries with a very hot climate, but it is also perfect for the middle lane in hot summers.

Its essence is this. A suspension is prepared from white clay (kaolin): 0,5 clay per 5 liters of water. 1 cup of brewed starch in liquid form is added to it (1 tablespoon per 200 ml of water) – it helps the clay not precipitate and stick better to the leaves. Everything is mixed well and the vegetables are sprayed with this suspension. But not completely, but only from the south side. And also the soil, if it is not mulched.

White clay forms a light coating on the leaves, which reflects the sun’s rays well and prevents the plants from overheating. Studies have shown that in hot weather the temperature of leaves treated with kaolin is 5-6 °C lower.

And the evaporation of moisture from the soil treated with suspension is reduced by 20 – 30%.

Shading beds

This method is suitable for tomatoes and cucumbers, which are tied to trellises or wire (rope) stretched between the posts along the edges. On top of these wires, you can loosely put dry thin tree branches, reeds, last year’s sunflower or corn stalks so that they form a light penumbra. And even in a light shade, as you know, the temperature in the heat is always lower.

Another option to save the garden from the heat is to cover the plants with non-woven material, the very one with which we save seedlings in the beds from frost in May. Above tomatoes and cucumbers, you can put this material directly on top of a wire or rope and secure it with clothespins so that it does not blow away in the wind. Over low vegetables, you can put arcs and cover over them. The non-woven material transmits light well, but it is always cooler under it than in the open sun. And if you press it tightly along the perimeter to the soil, for example with bricks, then it will also become an excellent protection against pests: caterpillars and cruciferous fleas.

Ventilation of greenhouses

In greenhouses in hot weather, the temperature rises very much. The easiest option to lower the temperature is to ventilate the greenhouses. Open all doors and windows for at least a day, but on very hot days, overnight is also best.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about protecting plants from heat with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.

Sources of

1. State Register of Breeding Achievements, https://reestr.gossortrf.ru/
2. Gavrish S.F. Tomatoes // M.: NIIOZG, publishing house “Scriptorium 2000”, 2003 – 184 p.
3. Differences in Cold Adaptation of Bacillus subtilis under Anaerobic and Aerobic Conditions Jana Beranová, María C. Mansilla, Diego de Mendoza, Dana Elhottová, Ivo Konopásek // Journal of bacteriology, Aug. 2010