For gardeners, nothing is more satisfying than slicing into a homegrown tomato or cucumber.
But a harvest can be ruined if stormwater runoff or overflow from nearby waterways floods a garden.
Floodwaters can carry bacteria, sewage, or other pollution.
Grubinger: “According to the Food and Drug Administration, any edible portion of a plant that touches floodwaters is considered contaminated and should not be consumed.”
Vern Grubinger of the University of Vermont Extension says some contaminants will break down over time.
But pollutants like heavy metals can linger in the ground, so Grubinger says gardeners might consider testing their soil after a flood.
And many experts recommend waiting at least three months before harvesting any food from a flooded garden – and waiting at least four months for crops like strawberries that can touch the soil.
Grubinger says the safest thing to do after a flood is to let the soil dry out and try replanting later in the season or even next year.
Grubinger: “We tell people to hang in there, there’s always next year.”
As the climate changes, increasingly powerful storms will bring a higher risk of flooding to many areas.
So every home gardener should know what precautions to take after a flood hits.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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