How to Garden in a Heat Wave: Resilient Garden TOUR (Zone 8a)

Daily temperatures are reaching 100° F but our no-cost planting strategy is keeping our garden thriving. I’ll show you the amazing results of using microclimates so you can know how to grow vegetables in a heat wave too! My garden is no dig, organic polyculture with microclimates.
Part 2 of our Family Gardening Series in the Summertime
June/July 2024, Zone 8a of the American Southeast.
#microclimates

[@supereight9221]

That joyful baby has an 80 year old soul.

[@paultoth2916]

Thanks, I am in Tucker GA and just starting my gardening adventure. You give me hope!

[@beentheredonethat6584]

You certainly have some interesting problems and innovative solutions.
My garden in British Columbia, Canada last year I had the most productive tomatoes in my 38 years of gardening. In June there were 18 days of >30C or >86F and 2 days over 40C or 104F. In July 28 days were over 30C of which 5 days were over 40C. August was cooler with 17 days over 30C.
I don't prune my tomatoes. I grow a tomato jungle with 360 degree of no shade from sun or wind. My 8 plants produced so heavily that the August 7th entry to my diary reads "I am seriously tired of all this harvesting". Five plants produced over 20 pounds of fruits and the others were not far behind. My cherry plant "Sweetie" produced 850 tomatoes (~5kg) when I pulled it out in disgust. Constoluto Genovese produced right up until the end in late September. Other gardeners who grow tomato jungles reported the same 'problems'.
I mulch with alyssum "Snow Carpet". I use soaker hose irrigation. I do not use chemical fertilizer, just bonemeal and compost. I saw one hornworm and one praying mantis. No splits, no BER and no other problems - other than continuous harvest. The excessive heat provided perfect growing conditions.
This year looks like being very disappointing. Unless I see some serious heat the harvest will be small.

[@JessicaVanderhoff]

Glad to hear the shady microclimates are working out for you! I start getting over 100 in early June and continue though October or early November. My plants do well in full sun, but I have drip irrigation run under like four inches of mulch.