Why You Can't Plant Tomatoes After Rain? A Spring Trap for Beginners

Rain is considered a gardener's helper: the soil is soft, moist, and it is easy to plant in such soil.

But those who rush to plant tomatoes immediately after a downpour often find that the seedlings turn yellow, wither, or even die.

The whole point is that wet soil is a trap that seems convenient only at first glance.

After rain, the soil becomes saturated with water to the limit, displacing oxygen, without which the roots cannot breathe.

Planting in clay soil is especially dangerous: it sticks together into dense lumps, forming an impenetrable crust around the roots. In such conditions, root rot develops, and fungal spores, which are always present in the soil, become active and attack weakened plants.

Another problem is the leaching of nutrients. Rain flows carry nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus into deep soil layers, inaccessible to young roots. As a result, tomatoes end up in a "desert" with nothing to eat.

But that's not all. Wet soil is colder than dry soil, and tomatoes are a heat-loving crop. If the soil has not warmed up to +12–15°C, the roots stop developing, and the plant spends energy on survival, not on growth.

How to avoid these risks? First, wait until the soil dries out. Check this with a simple test: squeeze a handful of soil in your hand. If it crumbles and does not stick together in a lump, you can plant.

Secondly, improve the soil structure. Add sand, compost or rotted sawdust to the holes - this will make the soil loose and breathable.

Third, create drainage. Pour a 2-3 cm layer of expanded clay or small gravel at the bottom of each hole. This will prevent water stagnation even during sudden rain after planting.

If time is of the essence, use raised beds: raised 20–30 cm above ground level, they warm up faster and drain better.

After planting, mulch the soil with straw or mown grass - this will retain moisture without over-watering.

And don’t forget about the prevention of fungal diseases: water the holes with a solution of phytosporin (1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water) or sprinkle the soil with ash.

Choose varieties that are resistant to over-watering, such as "Dubok", "Bogatyr" or "Tsar Peter". Their root system tolerates stress better.

And the last piece of advice: watch the weather forecast. If rain is expected in the coming days, postpone planting. It is better to lose a week than the entire harvest.

Remember: tomatoes like moderate humidity, but hate swamps. Give them a chance, and they will thank you with sweet fruits.