Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Oct. 6

OK, we usually get some warm days in October, but this was ridiculous.

This month started red-hot with a three-day streak of triple-digit days – more than 20 degrees above normal. Thursday (Oct. 3) hit 103 at the observation site near Sacramento State University – a record for the hottest October day ever in Sacramento. National Weather Service records date back to 1877 – almost 150 years.

According to the weather service, our hot streak isn’t over yet; another 100-degree day is forecast for Sunday – thanks in part to unusually warm overnight lows. Instead of dipping down into the 50s, nighttime temperatures will barely go below 70 degrees. That starts days warm, and they heat up rapidly from there.

Fortunately, we’re finally going to cool down soon. The weather service forecasts more typical October days in the low to mid 80s and nights in the 50s by Wednesday. Next week, we should start seeing something that resembles fall.

What does this mean for our gardens? Expect fall color to be delayed; foliage needs chilly nights to bring out the reds and golds.

That heat likely zapped the last remnants of our summer gardens; it’s time to pull the tomatoes, if you haven’t already.

On the positive side, warm soil is great for planting. Get ready to get to work!

* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.

* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.

* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.

* Before planting, add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the soil, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.

* 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.

* 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.