How to protect your vegetables from heat waves?

Heatwave years are sometimes dark for gardeners: water stress on fruits, disrupted growth of vegetables, dry plants. Although most of our plantations appreciate the sun, prolonged excess heat can be fatal to them. However, there are a certain number of tips and techniques that can help offset the negative effects of periods of extreme heat.

Preventive hoeing

Weeds are also water hungry. They divert your watering for their own benefit. It is necessary to hoe your vegetable garden regularly, before mulching. Not only do you get rid of weeds, but you also aerate the soil by breaking up the dry crust that covers it.

Abundant watering

The heatwave accelerates the evaporation of water. It is therefore beneficial to water abundantly in the evening (not in the morning) in order to optimize this precious resource. Watering must be generous so that the roots of your vegetables benefit as much as possible. It is better to favor deep watering than multiple superficial waterings. Drip or oya techniques are highly recommended. In the event of a water restriction, the most foresighted gardeners have a recovery and storage system, such as for example, others recover used water as much as possible of the house.

Protect your floor

Mulching, starting in spring, is one of the best techniques for keeping your soil cool by slowing down evaporation. During the heatwave, must be thick (straw, wood chips, grass clippings, etc.). Made up of organic and biodegradable materials, it also nourishes your soil and halves the amount of water needed for your vegetables. For small plants, such as strawberries, a light mulch can be placed on the leaves.

Create shade

Shade reduces the risk of plants in your vegetable garden drying out. To prevent the sun from hitting it directly, creating shade is a good way to protect your garden. Stretching burlap between the rows of tomatoes, or placing large boxes which, when well placed, serve as sunshades, are beneficial actions. Likewise, small trees can be covered with a veil. Pergolas, reeds and even parasols, everything is good for shading your vegetables and fruits. Finally, effective trellising of fruit trees can also provide shade to the vegetable garden.

Extreme events, such as a heatwave (at least three days of very hot weather), tend to be more frequent, due to climate change. It is advisable to anticipate them by thinking, for example, of planting more resistant vegetables that require less water (spinach, onions, peas, beans, etc.). Likewise, planting trees or hedges is an effective way to mitigate the effects of a heatwave.