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wet soil in raised beds - planting advice

REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
edited April 2023 in Problem solving

I have some broad beans and peas, sown in Autumn, hardened off and really needing to be planted. I am away next week and there is no one to water them. We have two days of rain forecast for next week and several sunny 15C days. This area of the garden has been flooded. The waters have receded but the raised beds where the beans and peas are to go are still rather wet. (I suspect they have wicked up some of the water.) Would people risk putting them in soil that is registering as very wet on my hygrometer, or instead (risk) leaving them outside, unplanted (they are in root trainers) say, under a tree in dappled shade, on some capillary matting, perhaps? I *could*, at a pinch, ask a neighbour to take them and keep an eye on them (it's just a large gravel tray's worth) but would rather not, assuming my neighbours are going to be around anyway.

If yesterday and today’s weather had continued it might have been ok by Friday but more rain is forecast.

Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    I'd risk the RBs.  They tend to dry out quicker than 'natural' soil.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I would too. The only other alternative is to put them in larger containers with better soil, and either keep them there, or risk moving them again into the raised beds when you come back.
    However, perhaps you need to take a look at the siting and size of your beds though. Ground that's regularly flooding like that won't be very healthy - it becomes sour over time. Making the beds higher would help, or placing them on better, more freely draining soil if possible.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
    Thanks. It would be a pity to lose the plants at this stage but it's not too late to grow more if I do. The soil is not ringing wet.
    There is no where else to put the beds. I only have them there because of the flooding. (If it didn't flood, I'd grow in the ground) and I think people on here said don't put them there when I asked about it some years ago. But it's there or no veg, basically. I have attempted beans, peas, sweetcorn etc. in very larege pots and bags but the results were lacklustre and I'd need a hell of a lot of containers to get the same yields as the raised beds... which have to be sited somewhere too. The flooding happens once or twice a year in winter/spring and usually lasts less and certainly no more than a week. if I start having problems with growing I will think about raising the height, then, as crops have been really rather good for the last two years. 
    Mind you can't do that with my metal one!
    Anyway thanks again, both. I might make a start later. Rainy tonight and tomorrow, alas but dry for most of the next few days if the forecast is correct.
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 731
    So I put the plants in and it turns out the hygrometer's idea of 'very wet' is not the same as mine. Snails aside, I think it will be ok.
    Just realized now though that I have a lot of *other* plants that really ought to be planted before I go, including some rather underwhelming sweet peas.
    Tomorrow. And Friday.
    Thanks again for you advice and reassurance, both.
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