Hey everyone! I'm in Oklahoma, and I've been working with some pretty poor soil. To save some cash, I tilled my garden beds about 12-14 inches deep. Everything was going well until today when we experienced our first significant rain since the planting. I've noticed some flooding in a few of my beds, and I'm starting to worry about my plants. Here's what I've got growing:
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Onions
- Broccoli
- Bell Peppers
- Okra
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Collards
- Mustard
- Luffa
- Bottle Gourds
I also planted some seeds just before the rain:
- More Lettuce
- Spinach
- Bok Choy
- Cilantro
And I was planning to plant tomorrow:
- Cowpeas
- Cucumbers
- Corn
- Dill
- Lavender
- Bee Balm
- Chamomile
- Soybeans
- Bush Beans
- Yarrow
- Echinacea
I'm really concerned—how screwed am I? Is there anything I can do to keep my plants from drowning?
2 Answers
Tilling can actually lead to soil compaction, which makes drainage worse over time and disrupts the good microorganisms in your soil. Since you’ve already tilled, it's best not to do it again in the future. Consider using a broadfork to incorporate organic matter instead, and try to avoid walking on your beds when they're wet to prevent more compaction. I also have clay soil, and I opted for raised beds to help with drainage!
It’s definitely possible to work with less-than-ideal soil, and many folks end up going the raised bed route even when they might not need to. The key thing to look at is your soil texture. If it’s high in clay, that could explain the flooding issues since clay tends to retain water.
How long has the flooding been happening? A brief downpour will drain quicker than prolonged standing water, so it’s worth keeping an eye on. If it’s just been a few hours, you might be okay once the rains pass.