A rather unusual year weatherwise for the Houston vegetable gardener. But the unusual seems to be usual these days. Last year we got virtually no rain; this year it just won’t stop. It seems that weather patterns become stuck and it takes a major development to bring about a change. The cool May (never reached 90) and the cool, damp weather through June extended the spring garden considerably beyond its normal life. I still have tomatoes producing strongly, but only the cherry type (Sweet Chelsea and Sun Gold). Of course, the Merced tomatoes are determinate and would not be expected to continue producing. The Derby green beans are about the give up from exhaustion if for no other reason. They have repeat produced several times. Blackberries are about finished and it is about time for the less pleasant job of removing the throny old canes. I have elected to postpone all clean up until I return in late July. The mulching job I did with newspapers and native mulch has been very successful; very few weeds and grasses in spite of the wet conditions.
This year’s conditions show again that good gardening advice for Houston vegetable gardeners is to stay flexible.