This week a heat wave is hitting my county. Today it was 115 degrees outside! I'm worried about my crop. It's in full sun, and a few of the plants are showing signs of overheating already. Some of the leaves on the top of the plant have gotten crispy, I'm assuming from too intense of sun exposure.

Doe anyone have any suggestions on how to keep my outdoor crop cool during the day? I have been watering in the morning as well as the usual regimen in the evening. Maybe a circle of ice on the ground around each plant?

Throw some mesh cloth over then stat to block out some of the sun. Mesh being the key word, you want airflow and don't want to make a mini greenhouse around them. It's been pretty hot down here in the bay too, but not THAT hot.

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What I just posted is total fiction^

Like cheesecloth? 1 layer thick, draped over each plant?

And then mist over it?

Hmm.....

I dont see the heat being the problem 115 is hot but not too hot.
mine have to endure the aussie summer with temps equal to that and even reaching the 120 deg to 130 deg on the odd few days.
mine are grown in full sun all day.
with hot weather just remember just water in the evenings and never on the plant during the heat of the day.

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my gallery

Yes, we always water in the evenings. We have been watering lightly in the heat of the day, but on the soil and not the plant itself to avoid burning it... Is there any other reason we shouldn't water when its ridiculously hot?

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Don't move to California. The pot sucks here.

Outdoor harvest '08

apart from the fact that water droplets magnify the suns rays like a magnifying glass.
the plant wont have time to use the water you give it during the day,if you water in the evening the plant gets to drink all night and store reserves for the next day.

but other than that no reason at all not to water during the day....

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my gallery