Are we getting no rain at all the whole summer? (Redding: buy, live in)

[Mimiface]

This is my first summer in California (central coast to be exact). Temperature during the day has been over 100 and no rain the whole month of June. In Midwest when there is a hot day, usually you will see a thunder storm in the evening, but here we have only wind storm. Our new property has a few oak trees and orchard trees such as peaches, pears. I am very worried about them. I am planing to grow my veggie and flower gardens, but I am very discouraged now.

[nightlysparrow]

No rain in summer is pretty standard.

But no dreadful Midwestern summer humidity, either.

[Ruth4Truth]

Where on the Central Coast has it been over 100? Is there no morning and evening fog on your part of the coast?

For your orchard trees: buy a root feeder at the garden supply store. With a root feeder on your hose, you only need to water each tree for about 5 minutes. They'll be fine.

[saibot]

Summer is the dry season. We don't expect any rain to speak of until about November. This is just how it always is.

If your trees are established, they don't need much water, especially the oak tree. If you just put them in at the beginning of the summer, they could be in trouble. Around here it is better to plant most things any time except summer.

And yes, your flowers and vegetables will need to be watered...all summer long. Because of the current drought, you might want to keep those plants to a minimum right now. Anyway, it's probably too hot to put any new plants in and expect them to do well. Next year, start your summer vegetables (tomatoes, zucchini, etc.) around March.

[BodegaHead]

California 101:
Dry season- May-Oct. Zero to minimal rain for months except for some coastal marine layer fog drizzle in the nighttime & mornings & every few years the rare & exceptional 1 day mid summer rain monsoon shower & also the October shower or drizzle near Halloween.


Rainy season- Nov.-April. Basically slightly cooler temperatures with intermittent rainfall ranging from heavy rain storms to light drizzles.

The further North you go the more rainy days & cooler winters, more green. The further South the less rainy days you get & winter temperatures will be much warmer.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

If you're somewhere the highs are regularly over 100 degrees, you can pretty much kiss a garden goodbye. I lived in Redding last year, and in that heat nothing grows well.

The good news is, you can grow something most of the rest of the year.

But, yes, rain is not normal in the summer in CA. And we cringe at thunderstorms because they inevitably start fires. Happened just recently up here, and the fire is still burning in OR.

[Mimiface]

I guess I just need to get used to the climate here. The trees are all established, so I will stop watering the oak trees. As to the fruit trees, how often do they need to be watered? 5 minutes sounds doable, but how many times a week? Good advice on starting the veggies earlier. I don't know about Redding, I live in SLO's north county.

[PDF]

Welcome to California. No rain here.

[Bulldogdad]

It never rains in southern Kommiefornia.....

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by Mimiface

I guess I just need to get used to the climate here. The trees are all established, so I will stop watering the oak trees. As to the fruit trees, how often do they need to be watered? 5 minutes sounds doable, but how many times a week? Good advice on starting the veggies earlier. I don't know about Redding, I live in SLO's north county.

Even in a wet year the rain stops in May and doesn't start again until at least late September or early October. You will grow to appreciate a Mediterranean climate, I promise!

As far as your fruit trees, its better to deep water them about once a week. Five minutes is just teasing them. Put the hose on a slow trickle and let it sit most of the day. Oh, and welcome to California - hope you like it!