Coming soon: Much cooler temperatures with possibility of rain
Sugar peas sprout quickly in September weather. These were planted 10 days ago and could be transplanted now or in the week or so, whenever the garden site is ready. Kathy Morrison
The last week of summer will feel like fall – and maybe get a little damp.
After a record-hot summer, this final week starts with a dramatic cooldown. Sunday (Sept. 15) is expected to top out around 77 degrees, 15 degrees cooler than Saturday’s forecast high, says the National Weather Service. Monday’s high won’t even reach 70.
The real surprise: A chance of showers on Monday and Wednesday. It’s no sure thing – 30 to 50% probability, says the weather service. Even if it does rain, it won’t be much (less than 0.1 inches in Sacramento). But it’s enough to break the heat and nudge us into fall planting season.
A little September rain is normal for Sacramento, which averages 0.29 inches of precipitation for this month. But we haven’t had any measurable rain in downtown Sacramento since May 4. These showers, if they develop, could rinse off a lot of dust.
By next weekend, temperatures (and weather conditions) will be back to normal for September in Sacramento: 85 degrees -- and sunny.
Make the most of this cool break – and get things done. Your garden needs you!
* Now is the time to plant for fall. The warm soil will get cool-season veggies off to a fast start.
* Keep harvesting tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons and eggplant.
* Compost annuals and vegetable crops that have finished producing.
* Cultivate and add compost to the soil to replenish its nutrients for fall and winter vegetables and flowers.
* Fertilize deciduous fruit trees.
* Plant onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, turnips, beets, carrots, bok choy, spinach and potatoes directly into the vegetable beds.
* Transplant cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower as well as lettuce seedlings.
* Sow seeds of California poppies, clarkia and African daisies.
* Transplant cool-weather annuals such as pansies, violas, fairy primroses, calendulas, stocks and snapdragons.
* Divide and replant bulbs, rhizomes and perennials.
* Dig up and divide daylilies as they complete their bloom cycle.
* Divide and transplant peonies that have become overcrowded. Replant with "eyes" about an inch below the soil surface.
* Late September is ideal for sowing a new lawn or re-seeding bare spots.
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Garden Checklist for week of Oct. 6
Get ready to get to work! Cooler weather is headed our way mid-week.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
* Before planting, add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the soil, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioli, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.
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