Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Oct. 12

Grab your umbrella; we’re going to get some real rain.

According to the National Weather Service, Northern California is about to experience its first atmospheric river this fall, an early and very damp start to our rainy season and new water year.

Starting Monday afternoon (or late morning), Sacramento can expect “likely” to “definite” rain showers through late Wednesday morning. Unlike last week’s hit-or-miss storms, this system will bring some significant precipitation.

As of Saturday morning (Oct. 11), the weather service predicts Sacramento will get nearly 2 inches of rain (1.99 to be exact). That’s more than double October’s historic average of 0.95 inches.

Temperatures will be noticeably cooler, too. The high Tuesday for Sacramento is only 60 degrees – 20 degrees cooler than normal for that date.

By Friday, we’ll be back to sunny afternoons and temperatures in the 70s. Soil will be damp, but still warm – and perfect for transplanting cool-season vegetables and flowers.

Enjoy sunny breaks before and after these October showers – and get to work!

* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.

* October also 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.