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Plant kale and other leafy greens now — not tomatoes. Remember to protect tender seedlings. (Photo: Debbie Arrington)
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This is why you don’t plant tomatoes in February. It’s still winter!
Need a reminder? We’re about to get one.
According to the
National Weather Service
, Sacramento can expect frosty nights coming soon. Rain? That’s still a question mark.
But change is in the air, says the weather service, with an “unsettled weather pattern” starting Monday.
After enjoying spring-like temperatures in the high 60s and record warmth only a week ago, Sacramento will see several days in the 50s and more typical February weather. Overnight lows will plunge down into the low 30s with possibilities of frost on Wednesday and Thursday nights – especially in the foothills.
Gusty winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected Monday and, with them, the threat of winter wildfires. Brush is tinder dry. Be careful using power tools outdoors; one spark can start a blaze.
What about rain? A storm system is expected to dust the Sierra with a little fresh snow late Monday and early Tuesday. The foothills may see showers, but Sacramento’s chance of rain from that system is estimated at only 5 to 10%, say the forecasters.
If no measurable precipitation falls before Monday, Sacramento will set a record for longest dry streak during what’s supposed to be our rainy season. Sunday will tie the current record of 44 consecutive rainless days, set in 1976.
As for frost, protect any tender seedlings or frost-sensitive plants such as succulents. That includes covering new transplants with large water bottles, gallon milk jugs or other clear plastic containers. Leave an opening for plants to breathe.
Find more
frost tips here
.
This weekend, take the opportunity to deep water, especially citrus, shrubs and perennials. Camellias could really use a drink. This pre-frost irrigation will help plants cope with cold, too.
If you feel the urge to plant something, choose kale or other cool-season greens. Leave the tomatoes indoors where it’s warm for at least a few more weeks.
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Garden Checklist for week of Jan. 12
Once the winds die down, it’s good winter gardening weather with plenty to do:
* Prune, prune, prune. Now is the time to cut back most deciduous trees and shrubs. The exceptions are spring-flowering shrubs such as lilacs.
* Now is the time to prune fruit trees. (The exceptions are apricot and cherry trees, which are susceptible to a fungus that causes dieback. Save them until summer.) Clean up leaves and debris around the trees to prevent the spread of disease.
* Prune roses, even if they’re still trying to bloom. Strip off any remaining leaves, so the bush will be able to put out new growth in early spring.
* Clean up leaves and debris around your newly pruned roses and shrubs. Put down fresh mulch or bark to keep roots cozy.
* After the wind stops, apply horticultural oil to fruit trees to control scale, mites and aphids. Oils need 24 hours of dry weather after application to be effective.
* This is also the time to spray a copper-based fungicide to peach and nectarine trees to fight leaf curl. (The safest effective fungicides available for backyard trees are copper soap -- aka copper octanoate -- or copper ammonium, a fixed copper fungicide. Apply either of these copper products with 1% horticultural oil to increase effectiveness.)
* When forced bulbs sprout, move them to a cool, bright window. Give them a quarter turn each day so the stems will grow straight.
* Browse through seed catalogs and start making plans for spring and summer.
* Divide daylilies, Shasta daisies and other perennials.
* Cut back and divide chrysanthemums.
* Plant bare-root roses, trees and shrubs.
* Transplant pansies, violas, calendulas, English daisies, snapdragons and fairy primroses.
* In the vegetable garden, plant fava beans, head lettuce, mustard, onion sets, radicchio and radishes.
* Plant bare-root asparagus and root divisions of rhubarb.
* In the bulb department, plant callas, anemones, ranunculus and gladioli for bloom from late spring into summer.
* Plant blooming azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons. If you’re shopping for these beautiful landscape plants, you can now find them in full flower at local nurseries.
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