“Is there anything I can do or need to do to protect them during a hot, dry spell?”
I’m going through the same thing! I planted broccoli & cauliflower later than normal due to extra COLD weather, and now we’re getting the big heat and no rain!
I’m just going to keep mine well watered; they are mulched with straw. If they look like they’re suffering, I’m figure out some sort of shade cloth to put over them.
We’re behind on rain, but it’s making life easier for the guys bailing alfalfa hay in this heat, today! I have been watering my entire garden every other day. Tomorrow I am adding the raspberries and grapes to the watering schedule.
We have a second garden this year, and Beau is fashioning a LONG hose for me so I can get water to my suffering taters, and I just got the corn in today, and I still have to do all of the melons and winter squash I started. I don’t want to put in much more without a reliable water source.
If all else fails, I know where the grocery store is! ;)
We had a long dry spell but it broke and right now it is POURING rain.
I was thinking that shade with scraps of fabric or cardboard would help.
I have them mulched with straw already, but more could not hurt.
After this good soaking rain tonight, I guess doing the mulching is going to be first thing in the morning, before those $(#*(‘)$(#; black flies come out.
I gave my tomatoes a milk drink yesterday morning.
Does anything else like milk water drinks?