Colder than usual August?

The past month has been a wacky one -- luckily, when my AC died, it was only 65 degrees that day, which is crazy for July in Chicago!

But really -- according to our state climatologist, this July is the second coldest on record. We saw how our veg reacted -- some like it (lettuce), some thought meh (tomatoes), and some gave up the ghost after one too many temp shifts (broccoli and cauliflower).

Does it mean anything for August's forecast?

According to Jim Angel, our climatologist, a colder-than-average July leads to a colder-than-average August, sometimes by several degrees. Our beginning of August forecasts also look like cooler than average temps.

For our gardens, this may mean continued slow growth -- what can look like no growth at times -- for tomatoes, eggplant, squash and other heat-loving veg. It could be nice for greens like lettuce, which usually don't handle August heat well.