“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” -Robert Louis Stevenson

This week's current weather has me concerned about the upcoming summer. I fear that the hot and dry conditions will persist, possibly leading to a drought. However, despite the scorching temperatures, I haven't let it deter me from spending long hours in the garden.

Unfortunately, the mushrooms had their first flush, but it was not as successful as I had hoped. The intense heat caught me off guard, and some of the clusters dried up and cracked. I salvaged what I could, and now I'm taking extra measures to care for the mushroom bed. I'm diligently watering it and even giving it a gentle spritz during the day, hoping for another flush and to combat the heat until it subsides after the weekend.

The tomato seedlings and cucumbers have also been struggling with the heat. The first true leaves have been bleached and dried out, but overall, they seem to be adapting to their outdoor environment. Despite their withered leaves, they are still producing new and resilient foliage. The cucumbers have even developed a few new flowers and tendrils, although there are no signs of cucumbers just yet. Until the hot weather passes, I remain vigilant with my watering schedule and wait for my little plants’ fruits to emerge.

On a more positive note, the lemon tree's flowers have bloomed, and my first jack-o'-lantern pumpkin has sprouted, despite the challenging heat. The lettuce is almost ready for harvest, hopefully in next week’s post there will be pictures of my first lettuce harvest.

The peas continue to grow taller each day, seemingly unstoppable. However, I've encountered some difficulties with my beans. They have either been nibbled by pests or have simply failed to grow. I realize now that it was a mistake not to start them indoors first, but I'll remember this for next year. On the other hand, the pepper seedlings have fully acclimated to their planters and have nearly doubled in size.

The corn is still thriving and is beginning to resemble actual corn, which is incredibly exciting. Additionally, I made an unexpected discovery near my peas—several tomato sprouts! It seems that when I discarded some rotten tomatoes in that bed last season to amend the soil, a few seeds decided to take root and become tomato plants. It will be fascinating to see if these sprouts actually produce tomatoes.

During the past week, I also had to separate the broccoli sprouts, as they had grown too closely together and were becoming tangled. Carefully, I pulled them apart, making sure not to damage their delicate roots, and replanted them an inch or two apart from each other. Initially, they didn't respond well to the transplant and wilted immediately. However, with plenty of care and watering throughout the week, they are starting to bounce back and are adjusting to their new surroundings. Ultimately, the move was necessary for their continued growth, and I'm glad I took the initiative to relocate them.

Well, I believe I've rambled enough, and although I know I've left out some details. However, this summary captures the essence of my busy week. Looking ahead, it seems that the heat is expected to break in the coming week, and I'm hopeful for milder temperatures. I would greatly appreciate some respite from the scorching weather or even some rainfall to make my daily gardening endeavors a bit easier. It's never enjoyable to work in the garden when it's over 90 degrees outside—it's simply exhausting. The heat makes it challenging to accomplish everything I would like to, which can be discouraging. However, I remind myself that I'm just one person, and I tackle each day as it comes. I can only do what I can do and I keep pushing forward.

Down below is the complete gallery of the garden from the week. Until next week, Happy Gardening!