Flooded veg patch

ferguwat

Our little veg patch has spent most of the winter under water (we thought about turning it into a pond !!!). Bits of it are slightly lower than the surrounding grass. My question is do we simply buy topsoil and raise the level or do we need to sort out drainage first? I can't even imagine using it this year as it is so wet. Thank you in advance for your help.

wallbash

Do nothing , have patience.

lindseykim13

Yup it will dry

Yorkie1

What sort of soil do you have?

If it is lower than all surrounding areas then it may always be difficult to drain if it is heavier soil - in which case raised beds might be a solution.

That being said, last year was unprecedented and I'd suggest leaving it a while before you panic or go to the time / expense of construction.

forgotmyname

If one part is worse than the rest, Dig a drainage ditch and use the soil to make raised beds.

Seen some mad idea's but they seem to work.

ferguwat

Thank you for your replies. I will take your advice and be patient. We've had 2.5 dry days in a row (seems a long time since this last happened) and the water level has already reduced considerably.

wallbash

Having raised beds , drainage is not a problem , but I'm not even thinking about doing anything outside just yet . Even here in the S.E snow flurries are forecast this week .
Too many gardeners want to rush things at this time of year , my crops when sown will be stronger / healthier and crop better than any sown too early.

ferguwat

wallbash I'm definitely not thinking of planting anything yet (except maybe rice or cranberries! I'm sure they like growing in water). I'm up in the North East of Scotland so never plant much outside until the end of April, start of May on a good year. I'm just thinking ahead in case we get another wet year like 2012. If we do I think we'll have to make raised beds.

forgotmyname

wallbash wrote: »

Too many gardeners want to rush things at this time of year , my crops when sown will be stronger / healthier and crop better than any sown too early.

Stop looking at me

This is the issue, Start early and a cold/wet spell wipes it all out.

Wait too long and there is no summer left for them to grow.

Maybe we need to start growing rice?

My rhubarb is starting off well though

I have no idea where these Strawberries originated from (Maybe Iceland)? But even the Snow and freezing temperatures has no effect on them. They are still growing well. (Sophie variety).

I never cover them or anything either. Just leave them to it.

wallbash

Agree with you about the strawberries , plants are indestructible, same with my raspberries , cut them down to the ground about now AND pick the fruit , that it.
But I have an apple tree I prune , mulch and cuddle ...... and get nothing from . ( and no its not a pollination problem ) the tree just doesn't like me.