Sacramento could hit 111 degrees this week; remember to water
Plants in containers will need extra care during this hot week -- the soil dries out much quicker than for plants in the ground. Some pots may need to be watered twice a day. Kathy Morrison
This month is starting with a blast of triple-digit temperatures and a combination of official heat-related advisories. This week, an Extreme Heat Risk, Excessive Heat Warning and Red Flag Warning are all in effect as the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures from 105 to 115 in the Sacramento Valley and foothills.
Nights will be sizzling, too. In some places farther inland, overnight LOWS will stay in the 80s. It could still be 90 degrees when folks are watching after-dark fireworks on July Fourth.
Early mornings and evenings may be the only times to venture outside.
“Avoid outdoors in the sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” says the weather service. “Stay in a cool place, especially during the heat of the day.”
The weather service keeps tweaking its forecast, turning the expected highs up a notch. As of Monday morning (July 1), the forecast highs for Sacramento are 108 on Tuesday, 111 on Wednesday, 110 on Thursday’s July Fourth holiday, and 109 on Friday and Saturday. Monday’s expected 104 may be the coolest day of the week. (Sacramento’s all-time record for July: 114 degrees.)
“Stay hydrated,” says the weather service.
That goes for your gardens, too. Water deeply and early, preferably before 8 a.m.
July is usually Sacramento’s hottest month of the year. According to the weather service, Sacramento highs in July average 92.6 degrees; lows average 59.2. This week’s temperatures will be significantly higher than both.
How does this week stack up against July 2023? We started that month even hotter; July 1, 2023, hit a record 107 degrees. But due to a return of the Delta Breeze, July Fourth 2023 was only 88 degrees.
Overall, July 2023 was on the warm side; high temperatures averaged 94.3 degrees, almost two degrees above normal. In all, July 2023 totaled eight days in triple digits (peaking at 107 twice), but seven days in the 80s or 70s. That’s also typical of July; it’s not hot EVERY day.
Another aspect was totally normal: Sacramento did not see a drop of rain in July 2023. It’s unlikely we’ll see any this month either.
That means our gardens are totally dependent on irrigation; don’t forget to water! Transplants are quick to dry out; so are seedlings. Lack of consistent moisture can cause blossom end rot on tomatoes, peppers and other summer favorites.
For our gardens, there are some positives about this heat wave. High temperatures kill most fungal diseases. Say goodbye to powdery mildew, rust and blackspot.
Triple-digit temperatures also impact reproduction of some garden pests such as stinkbugs. This extended blast could wipe out an entire generation.
One more plus: Grass tends not to grow when it’s hotter than 100 degrees. Skip mowing – and relax with a cool drink indoors.
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Food in My Back Yard Series
June 10: Battling early-season tomato pests
June 3: Make your own compost
May 27: Where are the bees when you need them?
May 20: How to help tomatoes thrive on hot days
May 13: Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can
May 6: Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success
April 29: What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?
April 22: Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)
April 15: Grow culinary herbs in containers
April 8: When to plant summer vegetables
April 1: Don't be fooled by these garden myths
March 25: Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth
March 18: Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space
March 11: Ways to win the fight against weeds
March 4: Potatoes from the garden
Feb. 25: Plant a fruit tree now -- for later
Feb. 18: How to squeeze more food into less space
Feb. 11: When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants
Feb. 4: Starting in seed starting
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Garden Checklist for week of June 8
Get out early to enjoy those nice mornings. There’s plenty to keep gardeners busy:
* Warm weather brings rapid growth in the vegetable garden, with tomatoes and squash enjoying the heat. Deep-water, then feed with a balanced fertilizer. Bone meal or rock phosphate can spur the bloom cycle and help set fruit.
* Generally, tomatoes need deep watering two to three times a week, but don’t let them dry out completely. Inconsistent soil moisture can encourage blossom-end rot.
* It’s not too late to transplant tomatoes, peppers or eggplant.
* From seed, plant corn, melons, pumpkins, radishes, squash and sunflowers.
* Plant basil to go with your tomatoes.
* Transplant summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds and zinnias.
* It’s also a good time to transplant perennial flowers including astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia, salvia and verbena.
* Feed camellias, azaleas and other acid-loving plants. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce heat stress.
* Cut back Shasta daisies after flowering to encourage a second bloom in the fall.
* Trim off dead flowers from rose bushes to keep them blooming through the summer. Roses also benefit from deep watering and feeding now. A top dressing of aged compost will keep them happy. It feeds as well as keeps roots moist.
* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushier plants with many more flowers in September.
* Tie up vines and stake tall plants such as gladiolus and lilies. That gives their heavy flowers some support.
* Dig and divide crowded bulbs after the tops have died down.
* Feed summer flowers with a slow-release fertilizer.
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