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Dig In: Garden checklist for week of April 25

Soggy Sunday followed by plenty of tomato-planting weather

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED APR 24, 2021

Orange blossoms are a good reminder to fertilize citrus trees now to help set fruit. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)

After record heat a week ago, April wraps up with a rapid cooldown – and a splash.

The high temperatures this weekend will be about 30 degrees lower than last Sunday, when Sacramento saw a record high of 91. Instead, this Sunday will be soggy – our first measurable rain since early March.

According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento can expect about a quarter-inch of rain Sunday – and that’s it for April. On average, Sacramento receives about 1.2 inches for this month.

Highs will be under 60 degrees Sunday, before quickly bouncing back into the 80s by Wednesday. We may see 90 degrees again Friday.

Meanwhile, overnight and soil temperatures have warmed enough to plant summer vegetables, just in time for Sacramento’s unofficial Tomato Planting Day – April 28.

* This week is your last chance to plant most summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* April also is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* Transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and summer squash.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, carrots, corn, cucumbers, all melons, radishes and squash. Plant onion sets. Pumpkins can be planted starting this next weekend.

* 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.

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Keywords:

tomatoes Sacramento spring planting camellias citrus trees fertilizer gardening lawns vegetables azaleas rainfall summer bulbs summer flowers

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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3

November still offers good weather for fall planting:

* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.

* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.

* Plant garlic and onions.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* 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.

* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.

* 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.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.

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