Our biggest rains this summer were 0.5", and that was only twice. It has rained all around me time and time again, even 2 to 4" at a times in other areas of the city, but never in my area. I live west of Cincinnati, very close to parched southern Indiana. Therein lies the problem. High today 92°, and no rain in sight for the next 7-10 days.
I spent a little time working in the yard yesterday, pulling weeds and yanking fried plants. I've never seen the ground so dry in my 30 years in this house. No watering bans here yet, and I water constantly. I have watered tomatoes more than anything, watering deeply every day. Since getting our $404 quarterly water/ sewage bill last week, I've declared a moratorium on watering toms. Even with constant watering, the yield has decreased and tomatoes are a fraction of their normal size. I'm just going to let them fry.
Karen
