Great Barrington — What a month. The first three weeks saw warm temperatures and low humidity, just ideal summer weather for our comfort and my hops development, and as the photo shows the hops really developed. As a result of this period of July which continued from June, it was ideal hop-growing weather, which was not bad for the rest of my garden.
Then came the heatwave that started July 20th with temperatures in the 90s and dew points in the 70s. Conditions like this are not good for hop ripening.
Now, I have to pick them before mildew sets in.
Just enough rain for hops, but our gardens could use more, a lot more. When weeding is done, I find the soil underneath is like dust. July’s rainfall finished much drier than average — almost 3 inches below this century so-far average. And certainly, far different from the nearly 11 inches of last summer.
The July temperatures overall turned out to be a degree warmer than average, but the dew points for the first three weeks were in the very comfortable range. The last 10 days were more like what we are more accustomed to hot and humid.
Will the comfortable weather return in  August? A question only time will answer. But there have been times in the past when August has turned out to be warmer than July.
Enjoy the month.
July Facts:
Hottest: 1999, Â 91/64Â Â Mean: 77.5
13 days of 90 or above temps;
We average 3.
1999 summer had 33 days of 90 or above readings.
Coldest: 2000, Â 75/55 Â Mean: 65
That year, produced 3 days of highs only in the 60s,
Highest temp was 87. The coolest was  42.
11 days of below 50 degrees followed by a much cooler August.
Wettest: 2014, 11.79 inches followed by a very dry August; Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2021, 10.87 inches followed by a wet August that produced a near record wet year.
Driest: 1990 Â 1.86 inches followed by a very wet August.
