Fruit and vegetable crop recovery after wet weather and floods

If your crops and cropping land have been affected by floods, it is essential that you take steps as soon as possible to manage crop recovery and minimise the extent of the damage.

Waterlogged soils are deficient in oxygen, as the oxygen between soil particles is replaced by water. Oxygen is essential for healthy root growth and the lack of oxygen in soils over time results in root and eventually plant death.

After significant rain or flooding, inspect the crops when safe to do so and mark the areas (e.g. with coloured pegs) that are affected by poor drainage. If possible, take immediate steps to improve the drainage of these areas so that the water can get away, such as by digging drains.

In the longer term, look for ways to improve the drainage of the affected areas. Options might include:

• re-shaping the layout of the field
• improving surface drainage
• installing subsurface drainage.

If the drainage can't be improved, consider using the area for some other purpose, such as for a silt trap.

Wet weather can also increase the likelihood of Fusarium wilt in cotton and Fusarium stalk rot in sorghum.

Plant disease diagnosis

It's important to identify and target diseases in horticultural crops affected by recent floods and wet weather. Grow Help Australia can test your horticultural crops for diseases and pests. See information about fees, how to collect samples, and the submission form from Grow Help Australia. 

Restoring trees after cyclone damage

Cyclones can injure or damage fruit or nut trees. Learn how to restore cyclone-damaged fruit and nut trees.

Fact sheets

The following fact sheets provide information on managing specific crops during wet weather and floods.

• Managing tablegrape vineyards during wet weather (PDF, 65KB)
• Managing passionfruit plantations affected by wet weather (PDF, 80KB)
• Managing citrus orchards affected by wet weather (PDF, 77KB)
• Managing cucurbits, including melons, pumpkins, cucumber, zucchini and button squash during wet weather (PDF, 75KB)
• Managing avocado orchards affected by wet weather (PDF, 38KB)
• Managing pineapple farms during wet weather (PDF, 40KB)
• Waterlogged crops and nitrogen (PDF, 88KB)
• Managing capsicum, chilli, eggfruit and tomato crops during wet weather (PDF, 61KB)
• Managing sweetpotato crops during wet weather (PDF, 60KB)
• Managing lettuce and brassica fields during wet weather (PDF, 59KB)
• Managing horticulture crop recovery after floods and waterlogged soil (PDF, 54KB)
• Controlling banana weevil borer populations after a cyclone (PDF, 1.67MB)
• Helping to prevent papaya disease problems after cyclones (PDF, 272KB)
• Reducing the impact of wet weather on papaya fruit quality (PDF, 1.2MB)