Week of July 24, 202

Summers in Upstate New York seem to have more hot weather than when we first bought our Lakehouse 21 years ago, and the winters are definitely milder. This summer has been no exception, with a nationwide heat wave to contend with. Today, we thankfully received over an inch of rain to break a dry spell during the three week heatwave. The heavy clay soils on Keuka Bluff harden without rain, and the newly planted Saperavi grape vines, raspberries, and apricot and peach trees are especially at risk. To protect from dry weather, the raspberries and gooseberries are surrounded with 3-4 inches of straw and hay, to retain the moisture. Some local watering of the newly planted trees and reap The grafted grape vines are planted deep and “blue tubes” are used to ward off deer and preserve moisture. The gourd patch presents a particular challenge, as the new vines wilt in the dryness, but watering them creates a source of water for deer, who then bruise back the vines before they can climb the trellis. The other grapes with deep roots are less affected, and both the Riesling and Concord grapes have less mold and mildew when it is dry.