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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 24:

In between cloud bursts, try to catch up with early spring chores. 

* Attack weeds now! Get them before they flower and go to seed. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout. Aim for 1 inch below the soil line.

* Start preparing 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.

* Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in that product).

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and trees after they bloom. Try using well-composted manure, spread 1-inch thick under the tree. This serves as both fertilizer and mulch, retaining moisture while cutting down on weeds.

* 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 cole family plants, such as cabbage, broccoli, collards 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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