Pleasant planting weather returns after Sunday's expected (light) rain
It's the perfect time to plants seeds for flowers such as nasturtiums, poppies and sweet peas. Kathy Morrison
Rain in October? It’s not as rare as we may think. In Sacramento, this month averages nearly an inch (0.95) of precipitation.
But after several days of sunny, summer-like weather, this weekend’s drizzly rain feels like a shock to our system.
According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento is likely to see less than a tenth of an inch from this storm system on Sunday – just enough to get things damp and cool down temperatures. The forecast calls for a 50% chance of rain, peaking in mid morning Sunday.
Those clouds will noticeably cool temperatures, too. After a high of 85 on Friday, Sunday’s expected high is only 69 – 10 degrees below normal for mid October.
After Sunday, sunny and dry weather returns with highs in the 70s – perfect for planting. Take advantage of this opportunity.
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Make the most of warm weather this week with damp soil.
* Did your garden get enough rain? Test soil moisture, then consider deep watering shrubs and trees. Likely, they still need a drink.
* 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.
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Garden Checklist for week of July 21
Your garden needs you!
* Keep your vegetable garden watered, mulched and weeded. Water before 8 a.m. to reduce the chance of fungal infection and to conserve moisture.
* Feed vegetable plants bone meal, rock phosphate or other fertilizers high in phosphate to stimulate more blooms and fruiting. (But wait until daily high temperatures drop out of the 100s.)
* Don’t let tomatoes wilt or dry out completely. Give tomatoes a deep watering two to three times a week.
* Harvest vegetables promptly to encourage plants to produce more. Squash especially tends to grow rapidly in hot weather. Keep an eye on zucchini.
* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushy plants and more flowers in September.
* Remove spent flowers from roses, daylilies and other bloomers as they finish flowering.
* Pinch off blooms from basil so the plant will grow more leaves.
* Cut back lavender after flowering to promote a second bloom.
* It's not too late to add a splash of color. Plant petunias, snapdragons, zinnias and marigolds.
* From seed, plant corn, pumpkins, radishes, winter squash and sunflowers.
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