Spring starts with rapid warm-up; what does that mean for your garden?
Freesias in bloom herald the beginning of spring, which officially starts Thursday, March 20. Kathy Morrison
How will we remember the Winter of ’25? Was it too wet? Too dry? Just right?
Thanks to “March Miracle” storm systems dumping snow on the Sierra, our Water Year picture looks like it’s found the Goldilocks zone. But Sacramento could still use some more rain this spring.
This winter, Sacramento totaled just above 9.5 inches of precipitation; that’s a little below average. So far, our Water Year (which started Oct. 1) has totaled 13.29 inches in Sacramento; average for that same period is 14.81 inches.
More showers should be expected. Historically, March averages 2.75 inches of rain in Sacramento with another 1.15 inches in April.
Thankfully, the Sierra snowpack looks healthy and local reservoirs are relatively full. Compared to recent drought years, we’re in a good place water-wise heading into the drier months ahead. That’s good new for farmers and gardeners.
In the next few days, dramatic shifts in temperatures could cause some complications, especially for tender seedlings.
According to the National Weather Service, spring will start with a jump in temperatures. Sacramento will go from 61 degrees on March 19 (today, the last official day of winter) to 81 degrees Monday, March 24. That warming trend will start on Saturday and Sunday with a weekend in the 70s before zipping right into the 80s. Make sure new transplants stay hydrated.
(And many of us experienced hail last week!)
Don’t let those warm temperatures fool you; it’s still too early to plant tomatoes. Soil temperature has to rise, too. So far this March, our soil temperature has been trending low.
According to USDA, the average soil temperature on Wednesday in Sacramento County was about 53 degrees F.; that’s more than 3 degrees lower than average for the last day of winter.
Tomato roots need temperatures comfortably in the mid 60s; our soil won’t reach those temperatures until late in April or early May.
Want to plant sooner? Soil in raised beds warms faster. So does soil in black plastic containers; the black plastic absorbs heat. Choose those options for your earliest transplants.
For more weather updates: https://www.weather.gov/sto/
Comments
0 comments have been posted.Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Food in My Back Yard (FIMBY) Series
FALL
Dec. 2: Plant artichokes now; enjoy for years to come
Nov. 25: It's late November, and your peach tree needs spraying
Nov. 18: What to do with all those fallen leaves?
Nov. 11: Prepare now for colder weather in the edible garden
Nov. 4: Plant a pea patch for you and your garden
Oct. 27: As citrus season begins, advice for backyard growers
Oct. 20: Change is in the autumn air
Oct. 13: We don't talk (enough) about beets
Oct. 6: Fava beans do double duty
Sept. 30: Seeds or transplants for cool-season veggies?
Sept. 23: How to prolong the fall tomato harvest
SUMMER
Sept. 16: Time to shut it down?
Sept. 9: How to get the most out of your pumpkin patch
Sept. 2: Summer-to-fall transition time for evaluation, planning
Aug. 26: To pick or not to pick those tomatoes?
Aug. 19: Put worms to work for you
Aug. 12: Grow food while saving water
Aug. 5: Enhance your food with edible flowers
July 29: Why won't my tomatoes turn red?
July 22: A squash plant has mosaic virus, and it's not pretty
July 15: Does this plant need water?
July 8: Tear out that sad plant or baby it? Midsummer decisions
July 1: How to grow summer salad greens
June 24: Weird stuff that's perfectly normal
SPRING
June 17: Help pollinators help your garden
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
WINTER
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
Local News
Thanks to Our Sponsor!
Sites We Like
Garden checklist for week of Nov. 30
It's going to get colder after the fog (finally) dissipates. Without the fog, damp ground will finally have a chance to dry out – and no rain is in the forecast for at least a week.
Make the most of this break in the weather and tackle late fall chores:
* Protect tender plants from possible frost damage. Don’t leave poinsettias outdoors.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Clear gutters and storm drains.
* Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Plant bulbs at two-week intervals to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* Seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
Contact Us
Send us a gardening question, a post suggestion or information about an upcoming event. sacdigsgardening@gmail.com
Powered by California Local
