If your garden is getting deluged with rain from an usually wet spring, there are several problems that can arise:
- With the extra water plants grow very quickly. The rapid growth results in a plant with weak stems, which are easily damaged. The extra water also builds up in the tissues and they become soft and vulnerable to peasts and disease.
- If the weathersuddenly turns hot, the plant tissues will not have had a chance to toughen up. Moisture will be rapidly lost and the plant will wilt dramatically. Potentially if the hot weather continues the plant may not be able to recover.
- All this rain will wash nutrients out of soil.
The best way to combat all these problems is to supply extra nutrients that will help the plant build up the strength of its tissues. A prolonged cool, wet
period requires some specialized additions. - Potassium (Potash) will increase the strength of plant tissues (especially root and stem tissue). It promotes disease and drought resistance and can combat the effects of exces nitrogen. It is an important component of photosynthesis. It can be purchased in the organic form in small quantities. A quarter cup per plant is more than enough. One special source is greensand, a naturally occuring mineral product that also contains lime and trace amounts of over 30 other elements. It slowly releases potassium, which aids in photosynthesis.
Phosphorus (P) (Rock Phosphate) provides many trace minerals. Phosphorus helps develop strong roots and flowers, as well as promoting strong growth. When phosphorus is lacking, plant growth or maturity stops. It also strengthens the plant's resistance to pests.
An indication of a phosphorus deficiency is when stem, leaf veins or leaves take on a reddish tint. In a highly organic soil, phosphorus is rarely a problem, But in raised bed or soil that may not be at its best, a touch of phosphorus will keep everything healthy. Rock Phosphate is an alternate to bone meal as a source of phosphorus. Unlike bone meal, rock phosphate is not attractive to animals and provides more trace elements. It does not have the nitrogen content of bone meal, but few gardens rely on bone meal for their nitrogen.
Kelp meal or sewaeed emulsions are a particularly complete source for potash, phosphorus and other micronutrients. It has low amounts of these nutrients and takes awhile to break down. But it is a steady, reliable source that will keep your plants strong, no matter what the weather. BUT, due to the need for rapid nutrient first aid, Greensand will deliver the nutrients much quicker.
One mechanical action you can do to help is to pull the mulch away from the stems. Damp material leaning on stems filled with water will make them even softer and more prone to invasions by a variety of fungus and pests This is one of those problematic suggestions. Many sil borne fungal diseases are splashed up onto the leaves of plants when it rains. Mulch inhibits this action, but pulling back the mulch will let the soil dry out and warm up faster. My choice is to thin the mulch layer. Keep an inch layer. just enough to prevent splashin, but thin enough to allow the sun (when it shows up) to penetrate and warm the soil.
Beyond that, we must look to the skies and hope for much less rain and warmer temperatures.
