California News Lab

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Sept. 18

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Remember that wet stuff that falls from the sky? We haven’t seen any in a long, long time. But starting Sunday, a major storm system is expected to blow through Northern California including the greater Sacramento area.
“Are you ready for rain?” tweeted the Sacramento office of the National Weather Service. “You have about one more day to prepare before wet weather returns. Even dry leaves can clog storm drains and cause flooding on roads. Remove leaves from drains, check gutters and wiper blades, and be sure to find that umbrella as well!”
Spend some time raking leaves away from storm drains before the storms start Sunday morning.

Downtown Sacramento’s last measurable rain – 0.15 inches – fell on June 5.

How much could Sacramento get? Forecasters predict ½ to 1 inch between Sunday morning and Tuesday night. That’s significant; Sacramento’s September rain average is 0.29 inches.

Most of this week’s moisture will be steady, soaking showers – good news for trees.

After record highs, temperatures will be unseasonably cool – Monday’s forecast is 69, a 40-degree drop from two weeks ago. After the clouds move on, temperatures will quickly move back into the mid 80s by next weekend.

Move potted plants where they can soak up some of this free water. After the storm, your garden will feel refreshed – and ready to plant for fall.

* After the storm will be a good time to plant for fall. Soil will still be warm and help veggies and fall annuals get off to a fast start.

* Keep harvesting tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons and eggplant.

* Compost annuals and vegetable crops that have finished producing.

* Cultivate and add compost to the soil to replenish its nutrients for fall and winter vegetables and flowers.

* Fertilize deciduous fruit trees.

* Plant onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, turnips, beets, carrots, bok choy, spinach and potatoes directly into the vegetable beds.

* Transplant cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower as well as 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.

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