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Dig In: Garden checklist for week of April 12


Are your tomatoes growing impatient to get into the ground? Even though our nights are still chilly, the next week will be lovely during the day. You can try putting in a few now and see how they do. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

Warm weather brings urge to plant veggies



Get ready for spring fever! And this case has nothing to do with coronavirus; it's about planting tomatoes and other favorites.

According to the National Weather Service, we're in for terrific gardening weather. High temperatures will remain above normal, maybe even nudging into the 80s on Easter Sunday.

Although nights will still feel chilly, the next seven days should see afternoons in the 70s.

Is it still too early for tomatoes? Transplant a few now and see what happens.

Our main tomato planting date is still two weeks away, so these early-bird Early Girls may not do much at first. But if this warm weather pattern holds, you may have fresh tomatoes by Memorial Day.

Elsewhere in the garden:
* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* Transplant leaf lettuce seedlings.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.
* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer favorites.
* Plant perennials, dahlia tubers and summer bulbs.

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Garden Checklist for week of Feb. 9

Be careful walking or working in wet soil; it compacts easily.

* Keep the irrigation turned off; the ground is plenty wet with more rain on the way.

* February serves as a wake-up call to gardeners. This month, you can transplant or direct-seed several flowers, including snapdragon, candytuft, lilies, astilbe, larkspur, Shasta and painted daisies, stocks, bleeding heart and coral bells.

* In the vegetable garden, plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers, and strawberry and rhubarb roots.

* Transplant cabbage and its close cousins – broccoli, kale and cauliflower – as well as lettuce (both loose leaf and head).

* Indoors, start peppers, tomatoes and eggplant from seed.

* Plant artichokes, asparagus and horseradish from root divisions.

* Plant potatoes from tubers and onions from sets (small bulbs). The onions will sprout quickly and can be used as green onions in March.

* From seed, plant beets, chard, lettuce, mustard, peas, radishes and turnips.

* Annuals are showing up in nurseries, but wait until the weather warms up a bit before planting. Instead, set out flowering perennials such as columbine and delphinium.

* Plant summer-flowering bulbs including cannas, calla lilies and gladiolus.

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