High temperatures take a 20-degree dip from last weekend's warmth
This poor daffodil, wet and face down in muddy mulch, may well epitomize the weather situation for Sacramento gardeners. Kathy Morrison
March came roaring in like a wet, cold lion. Will it leave like a lamb?
As we turn the calendar, Northern California is in the midst of another good soaking – this one much colder than the almost-tropical atmospheric rivers that hit last week. This current storm – dubbed a “blizzard maker” by meteorologists – will drop snow as low at 1,500-foot elevation in the Sierra foothills. Meanwhile, it will be very damp and chilly down here in the greater Sacramento area.
The temperature difference is enough to cause daffodil whiplash. Last weekend, our gardens basked in record-high 70-degree sun. This weekend, we’ll be lucky to see the low 50s. Saturday’s expected high in Sacramento is only 51 degrees with a low of 43.
In other words, our early spring is on hold.
As for rain, February proved to be very soggy. According to the National Weather Service, downtown Sacramento totaled 4.63 inches of rain; that’s 41% more than average for the month.
March tends to be on the wet side, too. And March 2023 was practically a deluge. That month totaled more than 5 inches of rain in Sacramento. Our normal rain total for the month: 2.68 inches.
This March, these first few days will get us off to a very wet start; rain is in Sacramento’s forecast every day through Wednesday.
Temperatures definitely will feel on the cool side, with days about 10 degrees below normal. March averages highs of 65 degrees and lows of 44. (Fortunately, overnight lows will just be in the 40s instead of dipping into the 30s.)
But those cold, damp days will keep our soil cold and damp, too. Until soil warms significantly, forget about transplanting outdoors any warm-season veggies.
While this cold, wet weather may have put a damper on outdoor gardening, make the most of indoor time. In the cozy (dry) comfort of your kitchen, start some seeds of summer favorites.
Aim to move those baby tomatoes, peppers and squash outdoors when the soil temperature finally warms significantly. Judging by current weather models, that will be sometime in late April or early May.
For the latest on Sacramento weather: https://www.weather.gov/sto/#
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Garden Checklist for week of Oct. 6
Get ready to get to work! Cooler weather is headed our way mid-week.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
* Before planting, add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the soil, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioli, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.
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