Much cooler temperatures coming soon; plant now!
This six-pack of baby pak choi (bok choy), grown from seed, is about ready to plant in its permanent spot. Kathy Morrison
Get ready for some much cooler weather. According to the National Weather Service, our current flashback to summer heat will end soon.
“Today’s warm temperatures are expected to stick around through the weekend,” tweeted the NWS Sacramento office on Saturday morning. “But by early next week, fall weather returns and our high temperatures drop 6-10 degrees below average!”
Saturday's forecast has a high of 94 degrees with 91 on Sunday. But by Sunday night, the ridge of high pressure holding in that warmth disappears, allowing clouds, wind and the possibility of rain to sweep across the Central Valley.
Monday’s forecast high: 69 degrees. That’s 25 degrees lower than Saturday’s expected high. Sacramento could also get damp on Monday afternoon with 0.13 inches of rain predicted by the weather service.
The remainder of the week will pleasantly be in the 70s – perfect planting weather! Overnight lows remain in the mid to high 50s, keeping soil warm and roots cozy. It’s the best combination for getting transplants off to a healthy start.
So, what are you waiting for? Plant something!
* Trees, shrubs and perennials planted now will develop deep, strong roots. This is the best time to transplant water-wise varieties.
* Divide and replant perennials. Add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the planting hole, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* 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 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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