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Dig In: Garden checklist for week of April 28


Are your tomato seedlings producing flowers before they're even planted? Pinch off these early flowers so the plant will
put its energy into growing strong new roots.

Sunday will be perfect for planting tomatoes and more



Suddenly, it feels likes summer – or at least early June.

Spiking into the high 80s and low 90s, Sacramento temperatures have been running 10 to 12 degrees above normal for late April. Reacting to this spring heat wave, everything seems to be growing (or fading) faster.

Such cool-season crops as lettuce, broccoli, cabbage and kale, which all were enjoying cooler days in March and early April, are quickly bolting to seed. Meanwhile, tomato vines love these higher temperatures, adding inches every day.

According to the National Weather Service, the days ahead will be sunny but not quite so warm, staying just below 80 – which is where we want to be right now.

Take advantage of this “normal” weather and plant summer favorites. It’s perfect timing -- April 28 is Sacramento’s unofficial Tomato Planting Day!

* Set out those tomato transplants along with peppers and eggplants. Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash. Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions

* Don’t forget to water. Seedlings need moisture. Deep watering will help build strong roots and healthy plants.

* Run the sprinklers early in the day -- before 8 a.m. if possible -- to minimize plant diseases.

* Add mulch to the garden to help keep that precious water from evaporating. Mulch also cuts down on weeds. But don’t let it mound around the stems or trunks of trees or shrubs. Leave about a 6-inch to 1-foot circle to avoid crown rot or other problems.

* Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, earwigs and aphids that want to dine on tender new growth.

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Dig In: Garden Checklist

For week of March 26:

Sacramento can expect another inch of rain from this latest storm. Leave the sprinklers off at least another week. Temps will dip down into the low 30s early in the week, so avoid planting tender seedlings (such as tomatoes). Concentrate on these tasks before or after this week’s rain:


* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.


* Knock off aphids with a strong blast of water or some bug soap as soon as they appear.


* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.


* Prepare summer vegetable beds. Spade in compost and other amendments.


* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.


* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.


* Feed citrus trees, which are now in bloom and setting fruit.


To prevent sunburn and borer problems on young trees, paint the exposed portion of the trunk with diluted white latex (water-based) interior paint. Dilute the paint with an equal amount of cold water before application.

* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.


* Seed and renovate the lawn (if you still have one). Feed cool-season grasses such as bent, blue, rye and fescue with a slow-release fertilizer. Check the irrigation system and perform maintenance. Make sure sprinkler heads are turned toward the lawn, not the sidewalk.


* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and kale.


* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground.


* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.


* Shop for perennials. Many varieties are available in local nurseries and at plant events. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.

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