Several major storm systems are rolling into Portland tomorrow through the weekend. This is the first major rain we've had in the Portland metro area since March! See the national weather service special weather statement here. We are excepting rain and lots of it.
This will be a much needed respite for the numerous forest fires raging in Oregon and Washington. Our gardens are also sorely in need of a good rain after such a hot and dry spring and summer.
I very much look forward to this rain with anticipation! In preparation, I spent the morning harvesting tomatoes and securing my dahlias. This week we planted crops for fall & winter harvest: broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, mesclun mix, and spinach. All this rain is going to be great for little transplants.
Here are some tips to help you & your garden survive the summer downpour:
--Tomato fruit is prone to cracking and splitting with watering fluctuations, like a heavy rain. Harvest any mature and almost ripe fruit.
--This wet weekend and cooler temperatures next week is perfect weather for slow roasting tomatoes, cooking a pot of tomato soup, or canning tomato sauce.
--Secure any heavy flopping summer plants. My dahlia plants had gotten very top heavy with blooms and a sudden heavy rain could break their hallow branches. I tied their tall stems to bamboo stakes secured within their support cages.
--With high temperatures in the 70s the next week, today or early next week after the rain stops is a perfect time to plant your garden for a fall and winter harvest.
Enjoy the wet weekend and happy gardening! Jolie
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