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Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Feb. 7

Sunny weather is great for planting

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED FEB 6, 2021

These peach buds are at the perfect stage for spraying with a copper-based fungicide to prevent peach

leaf curl. The Sacramento area should have dry weather for gardening for at least a few more days. (Photos: Kathy Morrison)

Enjoy the sun! While much of the nation is shivering (and covered with snow), Sacramento will bask in spring-like weather. High temperatures will flirt with the 70s this weekend before returning to "normal," according to the National Weather Service. That means afternoon highs in the low 60s and overnight lows about 40 degrees, depending on cloud cover.

No frost is in sight. A chance of showers is in the forecast, but not until late Thursday or Friday. Next weekend also is expected to be dry.

What's normal for late winter in Sacramento? Historically, our February highs average 60 degrees with lows of 42. The biggest difference right now? Rain. Sacramento averages nearly 3.6 inches for February; so far this month, we've totaled 0.28.

Precipitation will have to pick up dramatically to reach "normal" levels. Since Oct. 1 (the start of our water year), Sacramento has received just 4.8 inches of rain -- almost 6 inches below average.

This sunny weather is prompting plants to break buds and grow rapidly. So, get busy!

* This is the last chance to spray fruit trees before they bloom. Treat peach and nectarine trees with copper-based fungicide. Spray apricot trees at bud swell to prevent brown rot.

* Apply horticultural oil to control scale, mites and aphids on fruit trees. Oils need at least 24 hours to dry to be effective. Don’t spray during foggy weather or when rain is forecast.

* Feed spring-blooming shrubs and fall-planted perennials with slow-release fertilizer. Feed mature trees and shrubs after spring growth starts.

If you already have strawberries in the ground, it's a good

time to feed them. It's also a good time to put in new plants.

* Fertilize strawberries and asparagus.

*Transplant or direct-seed several flowers, including snapdragon, candytuft, lilies, astilbe, larkspur, Shasta and painted daisies, stocks, bleeding heart and coral bells.

* In the vegetable garden, plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers, and strawberry and rhubarb roots.

* Plant artichokes, asparagus and horseradish from root divisions.

* Transplant cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and lettuce (both loose leaf and head).

* Plant potatoes from tubers and onions from sets (small bulbs).

* From seed, plant beets, chard, lettuce, mustard, peas, radishes and turnips.

* Plant summer-flowering bulbs including cannas, calla lilies and gladioli.

* Indoors, start peppers, tomatoes and eggplant from seed.

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winter chores Sacramento peach leaf curl February garden checklist fruit trees seed starting weather strawberries gardening seed bulbs

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Temperatures will be a bit higher than normal in the afternoons this week. Take care of chores early in the day – then enjoy the afternoon. It’s time to smell the roses.

* Plant, plant, plant! It’s prime planting season in the Sacramento area. If you haven’t already, it’s time to set out those tomato transplants along with peppers and eggplants. Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.

* Direct-seed melons, cucumbers, summer squash, corn, radishes, pumpkins and annual herbs such as basil.

* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.

* In the flower garden, direct-seed sunflowers, cosmos, salvia, zinnias, marigolds, celosia and asters.

* Plant dahlia tubers. Other perennials to set out include verbena, coreopsis, coneflower and astilbe.

* Transplant petunias, marigolds and perennial flowers such as astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia and verbena.

* Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, earwigs and aphids that want to dine on tender new growth.

* Feed summer bloomers with a balanced fertilizer.

* For continued bloom, cut off spent flowers on roses as well as other flowering plants.

* Don’t forget to water. Seedlings need moisture. Deep watering will help build strong roots and healthy plants.

* Add mulch to the garden to help keep that precious water from evaporating. Mulch also cuts down on weeds. But don’t let it mound around the stems or trunks of trees or shrubs. Leave about a 6-inch to 1-foot circle to avoid crown rot or other problems.

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