Meteorologist Dave Epstein is our go-to person for pressing weather questions on everything from winter blizzards to summer droughts. He’s also a horticulturist, meaning he’s an expert in anything that grows leaves and flowers. GBH's Morning Edition asked our audience for weather and gardening questions, and Epstein graciously answered them on the air. This transcript has been edited for clarity.

Have a gardening or weather question for meteorologist Dave Epstein? Tweet him @GrowingWisdom, email us at thewakeup@wgbh.org, or text 617-300-2008.

There’s a flood watch for parts of the Boston area Thursday. What does that mean? What should I do to prepare?

Conditions are favorable for flooding, Epstein said. But whether Eastern Massachusetts sees more torrential rain Thursday night or more of a smattering of showers remains to be seen, Epstein said.

“I think the highest risk is actually south of the Pike,” he said. “I think that some areas could miss it altogether. The atmosphere's charged, the atmosphere has what it needs. But does it all come together at the right time, or does it kind of come together a little more splotchy?”

Some areas might not see much rain at all, he said. But depending on atmospheric conditions, some places could also see the same flooding Massachusetts had on Tuesday.

“The good news is, it’s overnight. It’s not going to affect anyone’s outdoor plans,” he said. “By tomorrow morning, we’re back to clearing — sunshine, low humidity. It looks gorgeous tomorrow, up near 80.”

People who live in homes that tend to flood can prepare by raising their items off the ground. Epstein recommended getting pallets from nearby stores or farms and using them to raise whatever’s being stored in their basement by a few inches.

“If it’s happening frequently, it might be time to think about a sump pump or something like that,” he said. “The climate models do show that New England is apt to have more of these events. That doesn’t mean they’re going to occur all the time. It’s like if one of these events occurs once every — I’m making it up — 25 years, it may now occur every 22 years and then, eventually, every 17 years.”

What should I do about all the green tomatoes on the vine when it’s raining super hard? Are they lost, or can I bring them in and ripen them somehow? — Teresa from Billerica

This summer’s rainy, cloudy weather means tomatoes may be slower to ripen, Epstein said.

“I think that we have had a lot of cloudiness,” he said. “Certainly in July, we’ve had a lot of moisture. So things may just be a little bit late this year, but have some patience.”

For now, leave those green tomatoes on the vine, Epstein said.

“I would not bring them in because ripening tomatoes, the flavor is not as good,” he said. “If we were talking here late September or early October and we had a frost coming and you were going to lose them to that, I’d say, yeah, pull them off.”

But since it’s only August, Epstein said, they should be OK on the vine. Some smaller cherry tomatoes can crack if they get too much water, he said. If that happens, fruit flies or fungi can get into those cracks — but picking the tomatoes, cutting off the cracked part, and eating them fresh — or using them in a tomato sauce — is still a good option.

If you’ve already picked unripened tomatoes, there’s a small chance they may ripen in a sunny windowsill. If they don’t, try frying them up or pickling them, Epstein said.

“But now, this time of the year, we’re still at August 10. Just leave them alone,” Epstein said. “They’ll be fine.”

My husband’s tomato plants just aren't producing fruit this year. Same plot, purchased at 2 different places, same as previous years. Any thoughts? —Connie in Natick

The soil may be depleted of its nutrients, Epstein said.

“You plant a tomato plant, it uses what it needs in that spot. And if you don't replenish with nutrients that especially are specific for whatever you’re planting, in this case tomatoes, then they can’t produce as much,” he said.

New organic soil or compost could help, he said.

Hi Dave! I’m growing dahlias for the first time. Planted tubers in early June. No buds yet. Any tips? I heard about pinching? Should I fertilize? —Nicole from Worcester

Dahlias are a great plant, Epstein said. They can produce colorful blooms with bushy petals, and — if cared for properly — will produce more flowers year after year.

“I love doing them in containers because they’re easy to pull out,” he said. “They’re not hardy, so you’ve got to take out the tubers later in the winter.”

Nicole’s dahlias still have time this season, Epstein said.

“This time of the year, you still have plenty of time for the dahlias to be forming their buds,” he said. “You can give them some liquid fertilizer that’s specifically made for flowers. So there’s, you know, a lot of them are called like bloom busters or happy blooms or whatever.”

When the first frost comes, likely in October, preserve the bulbs for winter.

“Once they get their first frost and the plants' tops die, then I dig them out,” he said. “I put them in the basement and you can go Google kind of how to store them over the winter, and then next year you can replant them. And as they get bigger, they tend to produce more flowers year after year.”

More Ask Dave Epstein:

What action from Perseid can we hope to observe this year? — Penny

Friday night should be beautiful and clear, Epstein said, perfect for watching meteors.

“It’s a wonderful meteor shower because, unlike some of the other ones that are in the winter, it’s comfortable so you can get outside and watch them,” he said. “It tends to be better after midnight, in the wee hours of the morning. But even as early as 10, 11 p.m., you can go watch them.”

It’s also a great activity for kids, so long as they don’t mind a disrupted sleep schedule.

“I used to take campers from Camp Kingswood up in Maine,” Epstein said. “I used to take them all to the ball field. We'd all lay down on blankets and watch it. One of my favorite memories.”