The week was characterized by dealing with the heat dome that descended over the Midwest. I established a durable routine to protect the garden for what will likely be repeated heat domes in this geography. The daily high ambient temperatures meant I spent less time in the garden once it was protected.

I donated kale to the food pantries this week. We are not close to being done with the crop. The plants look good, and if I’m lucky, they will produce into November. With the freezer full, there will be plenty leftover for the pantries.

Garlic leaves were beginning to yellow so I dug one plant and took a look. The garlic head was making good progress. It was well-formed, and wrapped with skin. The neck had a lot of green still present, with roots looking vigorous and white. There were no signs the head was past prime maturity, with room to grow by midweek. By Sunday more leaves had begun to turn. I’m looking at harvest this coming week.

Cucumbers, zucchini, squash, leeks, and onions are all making good progress. I harvested the first fennel plant. I’m letting the turnips grow until I use what was already harvested. I need to get under the covered row, yet I can see through the cloth everything is well watered and growing. I still have plenty of herbs in the refrigerator. Tomatoes are beginning to flower, and it won’t be long before there are cherry tomatoes to harvest. The Zestar! apples are close to being ripe: another week or two.

There were a lot of distractions this week, and with high temperatures, the garden was free to do as it would. Today’s harvest may be longer than usual insofar as I expect to weed the pepper patch where everything is growing well, including weeds.

Now that temperatures backed off, there will be more time in the garden.