Dale k we're just about done here with all the heat and the grasshopper damage also. It's been almost impossible to keep our garden hydrated over the last several weeks.
One thing I have learned is to pack clay or native soil in the bottom 3-4" of any boxed beds. Much like putting a piece of broken tile in a flower pot, the denser bottom helps retain the water.
The only real problem we had this year were potato beetles. We spayed the plants with the correct insecticide, but won't do that again. They're very easy to hand pick, and catmandoo told me he saved them as snacks for his fish. We'll certainly do that next year.
