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Some Giving Up On Their Gardens After Too Much Rain, But Try Aerating
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While digging up my potatoes this week, I used a four-pronged spading fork to aerate the soil around all the other plants in my garden. I hope it will alleviate some of the problems I’m having with water-logged soil. -
By ANDY BEHLEN The Fayette County Record
I heard from a few people who gave up on their vegetable gardens after all the rain last week. I understand the frustration. More than 10 inches fell at our place just outside La Grange.
As I mentioned in my column last week, plants use their roots to “breathe” through tiny gaps in the soil structure. Humans can’t breathe under water, and neither can plants. Soggy soil suffocates the roots, which can eventually kill the plants.
Back in February I planted a row of potatoes - about half Yukon gold and half red Pontiac. They were doing great until about two weeks ago. I had an infestation of potato beetles that defoliated a few of the plants. I sprayed them with some Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew - my favorite organic pest remedy - and that knocked out the infestation. But then all the rain fell. The potato tops began to wither and die. I knew I needed to harvest the potatoes before they rotted in the ground. But it was too wet to even step in the garden without sinking