What happened to my vegetable garden this summer?

Vegetable Gardening is never a sure thing was proved this summer. I had assumed that heat loving vegetables like egg plants, bitter gourd and okra would love the unrelenting heat we had in July. Unfortunately it was a bad assumption.

The heat got to the vegetable plants too. Okra did pretty well. I was very surprised at the eggplant not doing well. Wasn't the heat supposed to do wonders for the eggplant production? Looks like just heat enough (duh!) but also rain. No amount of hand watering made the plants flower and fruit.

Though Irene got all the hype (not to downplay the damage it caused but it spared our area), it was Lee that brought wide spread rain, flooding and road closures. The rain did wonders to the plants. They started flowering and fruit has started to set. I am just hoping the real cold weather does not hit very early so I can enjoy the benefit of fresh brinjals.

The snake gourd plant that was climbing on the wall also fell to the ground with all the wind and rain. The fruit is mishapen but the taste is still the same.

Did any of have similar experience with your vegetable garden this summer?

Note:
Want to thank to all of you who took part in the poll. It proved my experience that people who have watched the documentary 'Food Inc' have changed their buying habits.