What to Do in Your Alberta Garden After Heavy Rain
If you planted over Victoria Day weekend, or any time in the last couple of weeks, you have been watching a lot of rain fall on your newly planted flowers and vegetables. We have been too. Here at Maple Park Farm, we were right in the middle of transplanting our own garden starts when the rain rolled in, and we are waiting for the same break in the weather that you are.
The good news is that a stretch of heavy rain, while frustrating, is not a disaster for most Alberta gardens. The key is knowing what to do and what not to do, once the sun comes back out.
Step One: Stay Off the Soil
This is the hardest one to follow when you are eager to get outside, but it is the most important. Wet soil compacts easily under foot traffic, and compacted soil makes it harder for roots to grow and water to drain properly. Give your garden beds at least a couple of days after heavy rain before you walk or work in them.
Step Two: Check Your Drainage
Walk your garden beds and look for standing water. A little pooling right after rain is normal, but water that's still sitting 24 hours later is a sign of drainage problems that can lead to root rot in your tomatoes, peppers, and other transplants. If you see chronic pooling in the same spots, it's worth adding compost or working in some coarse material to improve drainage before you plant anything else in that area.
Step Three: Hold Off on Fertilizing
Heavy rain leaches nutrients from the soil, so it can be tempting to fertilize right after a wet stretch. Wait a few days until the soil has drained and your plants have had a chance to settle. Fertilizing into waterlogged soil is largely a wasted effort. The nutrients will wash through before your plants can use them.
Step Four: Resume Planting When the Soil Is Ready
A simple test: grab a handful of soil and squeeze it. If it holds its shape and then crumbles when you poke it, it's ready to work. If it stays in a ball or feels muddy, give it another day. Planting into wet soil damages its structure and makes it harder for your new transplants to establish good roots.
By following these few simple rules, you will have greater success.
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What We are Doing at the Farm
We started transplanting our own garden starts last week and got partway through before the rain arrived. The moment the soil is ready, we will be back out there finishing the job. In the greenhouse, we had our first carnation bloom last week after five months of growing from an unrooted cutting. This is a trial crop for us this year. More on that soon.
Our greenhouse vegetable crops are also starting to produce now. These will be included in our CSA boxes. If you love the idea of fresh, locally-grown vegetables without the work of a full garden, we still have CSA spots available for the 2026 season. First delivery July 16, sign-up deadline June 20. 2026 CSA Information & Signup
Come See Us This Week
The greenhouse is open and stocked. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, annuals, and hanging baskets are all on the benches. Our team is here to answer your post-rain garden questions in person.
📍 18311 Township Road 502, Tofield · Mon–Sat 10am–6pm · Sun 10am–5pm