Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Oct. 13

Time to grab a sweater! Really! Our break in the heat has arrived.

After a record October heat wave, our weather finally will settle into a more typical fall pattern – and more than 20 degrees cooler than last week. (There’s even a light chance of rain early Wednesday morning.)

According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento can expect several pleasant days this week with afternoon highs in the mid to high 70s. Our average high for mid October: 78 degrees.

That’s quite a contrast to recent days. So far this month, Sacramento recorded (at least) six days with triple-digit temperatures. That brings our total since June 1 to 51 days, making 2024 our hottest summer/fall on record.

Meanwhile, our overnight lows will remain relatively warm – mid to upper 50s. (That’s above our average low for this week: 50 degrees.) Those warm nights will keep soil cozy, too – the better for root development.

As gardeners say, fall was made for planting!

* October is the best month to plant perennials in our area. Add a little well-aged compost and bone meal (or rock phosphate) to the planting hole, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.

* 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.

* 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.

* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.

* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.