Late September ideal for transplanting (but remember to water)
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The weather's perfect for planting cool-weather annuals including pansies and violas. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)
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The heat is back and so is high fire danger.
In addition to temperatures pushing 100 degrees, strong winds (15 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph) and low humidity (10 to 20%) are forecast for the next two days. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning Saturday night through Monday evening, Sept. 28.
What that means: Watch out for wildfire. A spark from a lawnmower or other equipment can ignite dried grass or leaves. Take extra precaution while outdoors.
Hot, dry weather with temperatures about 10 degrees above average is expected to continue throughout the week, according to Sacramento’s weather forecast. But mornings will be pleasantly in the 60s and 70s – and busy.
The warm weather is keeping soil warm, too; great for planting! Just remember to keep garden additions well watered.
Traditionally, late September and October are ideal for planting in Sacramento. That includes transplanting shrubs, trees or perennials or starting a cool weather vegetable garden.
Need some specifics?
* In the vegetable garden, plant onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, turnips, beets, carrots, bok choy, spinach and potatoes directly into that warm soil.
* Transplant cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and 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 May 5
Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:
* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.
* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.
* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.
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