Autumn rain is part of market gardening in the UK. Some years it arrives gradually, and some years it feels like the taps have been left on.
The temptation, especially when there is a long list of jobs to get through, is to carry on regardless. But when soil is wet, working it at the wrong time can cause more problems than it solves.
Compaction, damaged soil structure and muddy beds can all create extra work later in the season.
So how do you keep the market garden moving when the weather turns wet?
Know When to Leave the Soil Alone
One of the simplest things you can do is learn when a bed is simply too wet to work.
If soil sticks heavily to your boots or tools, smears rather than crumbles, or leaves deep footprints when you walk across it, it is probably better left alone.
Digging, cultivating or moving machinery across saturated soil can squeeze out the air spaces between soil particles. This can affect drainage and leave the soil compacted.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is move on to another job and wait for the bed to dry out.
Protect Your Growing Beds
Keeping soil covered through the wetter months can help protect it from heavy rainfall and reduce erosion.
Depending on your system, this might mean using compost, mulch, cover crops, tarps or other forms of ground cover.
The aim isn't necessarily to make the soil completely untouched all winter. It is about reducing unnecessary disturbance and keeping the soil protected when it isn't being actively cropped.
Beds that are covered are also less likely to become a muddy mess every time it rains.
Think About Where You Walk
It isn't just machinery that causes compaction.
Repeatedly walking across the same beds, particularly when the soil is wet, can also cause problems.
Try to keep traffic to paths wherever possible and avoid walking across growing areas simply because it is the quickest route.
This becomes particularly important during harvests, when people may be carrying crates in and out of the field.
A well-planned path system can save a surprising amount of trouble when conditions get wet.
Harvest Carefully
Wet weather doesn't mean harvesting has to stop.
Many crops still need to be picked, washed or brought in, even when the ground is less than ideal.
This is where having the right tools and a sensible harvest workflow can make a difference.
Keep harvesting tools sharp and easy to carry. Use crates or harvest bags that can be moved efficiently, and think about how crops are going to get from the bed to the wash and pack area without unnecessary traffic across wet ground.
Sometimes changing the route is enough to save a bed from becoming churned up.
Don't Cultivate Just Because the Calendar Says So
It is easy to fall into the habit of doing certain jobs at certain times of year.
But soil doesn't work to the calendar.
If a bed was meant to be cultivated in October but the weather has delivered several weeks of rain, waiting another few days may be the better option.
There is no benefit in creating a beautifully cultivated bed that is immediately compacted again by wet weather.
Work with the conditions rather than against them.
Make Use of the Jobs That Don't Depend on Dry Soil
There are plenty of market garden jobs that can be done while the beds are too wet to work.
October and November can be a good time to:
-
Clean and maintain hand tools
-
Sharpen harvest knives and hoes
-
Check irrigation equipment
-
Repair damaged nets and covers
-
Organise the wash and pack area
-
Check tunnels and polytunnels
-
Service seeders and other equipment
-
Plan upcoming crops
-
Sort and organise storage areas
Having a list of these jobs means a spell of wet weather doesn't automatically mean losing a day's productivity.
A Little Patience Can Save a Lot of Work
Wet weather is frustrating, particularly when there is plenty still to do.
But soil structure can take a long time to build and only a short time to damage.
Avoiding unnecessary traffic, waiting for the right conditions and keeping beds protected can make the following months much easier.
Sometimes the best tool for a wet bed is simply leaving it alone for a few days.
The rain will eventually stop. Hopefully!