Prepare for weather rollercoaster, possible storms

Here’s something you don’t often hear in August in Sacramento: “Keep your umbrella handy.”

According to the National Weather Service, an unusual and strong weather system will blow into Northern California on Thursday night along with the possibility of thunderstorms. This cold front will drop temperatures as well as some precipitation.

As this “uncommon” weather system moves through, Sacramento has a 48% chance of rain on Friday afternoon and evening, says the weather service. The highest probability of rain is north of Interstate 80 including the possibility of cloud bursts and small hail.

Wet or not, Friday (Aug. 23) will seem downright chilly. Sacramento’s high temperature is forecast to be only 75 degrees – almost 20 degrees below normal for that date. Cloudy conditions will keep temperatures cool on Saturday (with an expected high of 81) before the heat returns.

And that warm-up will be fast; the expected high in Sacramento next Tuesday is 100 degrees.

Enjoy this cool streak while it lasts – and keep an eye on your tomatoes. If they had flowers bloom during recent cooler days, they’re likely setting fruit now. Fertilize them with some tomato food high in phosphate and potassium (the second and third macro-nutrient numbers on the fertilizer bag). That will help those baby tomatoes grow.

Also, deep water tomatoes before and after feeding. To help those vines hold onto their fruit, make sure their soil stays evenly moist during next week’s rapid warm-up.

Yo-yo temperatures can confuse flowering plants, especially roses. Blind shoots – stems with no terminal bud – are common on rose bushes after sudden temperature drops or increases. Blind shoots will never bloom; they just keep growing more leaflets. Snip them off (pruning about a half inch above a five-leaf leaflet) to prompt the bush to push out new shoots with buds.

While you’re at it, remove spent blooms on bushes, too. That removes a source of fungal disease as well as cues the bush to push out more flowers. Expect the new roses to open in six to eight weeks – just in time for fall bouquets.