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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: stig on July 30, 2007, 15:29:01

Title: flood damage
Post by: stig on July 30, 2007, 15:29:01

my plot in abingdon oxon is under 6-8 inches!
what long term affect will this have on the soil?

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: Oldmanofthewoods on July 30, 2007, 16:57:26

Hard luck Stig, mine too.  Depends what was in the water so no easy answer.  If you check the Government

http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/mapController

You can find out what around you chucks out pollutants.  You could do, soil analysis, your chemist can help with that.  As for the water itself it just leeches out the nutrients as it drains away.

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: cambourne7 on July 30, 2007, 19:59:24

what about treading in straw/hay, manure and compost while its all still squidgy?

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: Jeannine on July 30, 2007, 20:56:58

The advice we got from the health folks in Hull was not to eat anything from the ground for two weeks after the flood, after that time the bacteria  from the water which was unaccustomed to being in exposed to the  air would be harmless, then general good cleanliness during prep was all that was required.

XX Jeannine

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: stig on July 30, 2007, 21:10:53

A bit worrying as were situated behind a sewage plant!!

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: cambourne7 on July 30, 2007, 21:12:18

stig maybe you should contact the owners and ask them for them to test the soil  as neighbourly good will.

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: stig on July 30, 2007, 21:15:18

Will my raspberries canes and rhubarb rot?

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: silverbirch on July 30, 2007, 22:04:48

If you're near a sewage plant, you'll be swamped with tomatoes next year.

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 30, 2007, 23:52:03

The sort of bacteria that make you ill have a very limited life expectancy in the open air. Take basic precautions for a couple of weeks, like washing well after a visit to the plot, and then forget it.

How much damage the flood does depends on how long the soil remains saturated. Most roots require air, and after about 24 hours of saturation, plants will begin to be affected. My problem this year hasn't been the floods themselves, which ran straight off, but the constant wet weather, and resulting saturation.

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: stig on July 31, 2007, 10:06:10

Thanks for all your advise.
Now if someone wants to come on down with a mop and bucket??

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: cambourne7 on August 01, 2007, 12:07:29

Is there one big enough??

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: Jeannine on August 04, 2007, 18:16:16

My rasps are all rotted, the rhubarb did, but it has started up agsin??

Title: Re: flood damage
Post by: stig on August 04, 2007, 20:22:06

went over this afternoon*what a glorious day!*nothing left standing!
raspberries o.k rhubarb recovering.
the battle commences!!!