D., thanks again for the link - I am now sold on the GDD thing, and am doing record keeping this year too.
Re the weather in Vancouver - it is quite unusual indeed! No rain since mid-June, and it is hot! I am tired of watering, both the garden and the containers, too much watering work for me after work... I soaked the tomato beds really deeply on Friday, and today the soil was dry within the top 1'. Had to water again.
However, the tomatoes and cukes love the weather - I picked 6 ripe New Yorkers and a few Bloody Butcher, Fruhe Liebe, and TUmblers today, and some cukes. Yummmmm... the salad was so good.
To great summer in PNW!