The dry weather in the summer of 2017 has presented challenges not just for area farmers, but for gardeners as well.  

Even with the ability to water the fruits and vegetables only the length of a hose away, the heat and lack of moisture from Mother Nature can take a toll.  Bernadette Vooght has been gardening for many years and had a plot this year at the Yara Community Gardens.  

"We saw some things ripening and producing fruit quite early.  But now we are seeing, for example, some of the tomatoes taking their time to ripen because of the differences in morning and evening temperatures.  It (the weather) certainly has affected the way things have grown this year".

Vooght went on to say some crops have fared well this year.

"Potatoes are always a stable crop to plant and somehow the tomatoes seem to do well every time.  There have been a number of different crops that have been very successful."

And as always we are reminded to watch for frost.

"For sure those of us who still have produce on the ground.  There's a lot of sensitive produce still available that could be an issue.  Hopefully the weather will last and the frost will be a mild frost and not a killing frost".