Chilly storm throws another curve into spring weather
This rain-drenched rose shows an example of a blind shoot -- no bud happening here. To remedy, prune the shoot to just above a healthy leaf with five leaflets. Kathy Morrison
“Unsettled”; that’s how the National Weather Service describes our weekend forecast. Saturday (May 4) certainly fit that description with a mix of showers and thunderstorms, gusty winds and much cooler temperatures.
After basking in warm spring sunshine most of this week, Sacramento saw temperatures plunge more than 30 degrees. After 84 degrees on Friday, Saturday stayed chilly and wet in the low 50s.
With “definite rain showers” forecast throughout the day, Sacramento is expected to total ¾ to 1 inch of rain from this storm, says the weather service.
Sunday and Monday are expected to be cool (70ish) but dry. By Wednesday, we’ll be back in the low to mid 80s – with more heat on the horizon. And next weekend? We could see our first 90-degree day of 2024.
More on weather forecast: https://www.weather.gov/sto/.
What does this mean for our gardens? Expect to see more effects of weather whiplash.
Huge fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions confuse plants (as well as gardeners). For example, roses produce “blind shoots,” stems that never produce a bud or bloom. Prune those off, cutting just above a healthy leaf with five leaflets.
* Survey your garden after the storm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses.
* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding on Saturday.
* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth that follows moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.
* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* 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.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.
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Garden Checklist for week of Feb. 2
During this stormy week, let the rain soak in while making plans for all the things you’re going to plant soon:
* During rainy weather, turn off the sprinklers. After a good soaking from winter storms, lawns can go at least a week without sprinklers, according to irrigation experts. For an average California home, that week off from watering can save 800 gallons.
* 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 Brussels sprouts – 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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