🌧️ Tips and tricks to survive — and thrive — in the wettest months of the year!
Ah, June. In the Philippines, it’s the start of the school year, tsinelas weather, and yes — the rainy season. For us urban gardeners, that means muddy garden paths, soggy pots, and the occasional surprise fungus on your pechay. 🥬
If you think gardening in summer is tough, wait ‘til your raised beds become rice paddies. But don’t worry! Rainy season gardening doesn’t have to be miserable. With a few smart tweaks and a dash of creativity, your garden can thrive — even when the skies won’t stop crying.
Here are my favorite tips to keep your plants (and you) happy during the rainy months:
✂️ 1. If It’s No Longer Serving You, Cut It Off
Storms and heavy rains can knock your plants around like a typhoon buffet. Snip off dead or damaged branches to avoid them snapping and harming nearby plants.
Morning is the best time to inspect for pests, too — slugs, snails, and aphids love the cool, damp weather. If you spot them, spray your plants with this natural pest control:
Neem Oil Solution
Mix 5 ml neem oil + 5 ml liquid soap + 1 liter water
Spray once a week to protect your garden from unwanted visitors.
🌿 2. A Little Support Goes a Long Way
Tall plants like eggplants, tomatoes, and okra can easily topple over when winds pick up. Give them some loving support by gently tying their stems to bamboo sticks or wooden stakes.
Rain also leaches nutrients from your soil. Replenish with organic fertilizers like vermicast, compost, or fermented banana peel tea, applied around the base of your plants. It’s like giving your garden a warm hug after a storm. ☔
💧 3. Don’t Bottle It Up — Let It Drain
Yes, your plants love rainwater. But too much of it? Goodbye roots, hello rot. 🫠
To prevent drowning:
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Check for pooling water around pots and containers
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Use well-draining potting mix — check The Urban Gardening Shop for their best-selling Soilless Potting Mix!
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Elevate your pots on stands or bricks so they don’t sit in puddles
Good drainage = happy roots. Always.
💚 4. Don’t Forget to Care for the Gardener Too
Gardening in the rain can be refreshing — but not when you’re shivering and sneezing afterward. Don’t forget your rain gear: waterproof boots, raincoat, gloves, and even a hat. Cold and flu season is real!
Also: take breaks. Sip salabat, warm up, and check in with yourself. Your garden is a reflection of you. If you’re exhausted, your plants will feel it too. Rest is part of the process.
🌈 Final Thoughts: Let It Rain (and Let It Grow)
Rainy season gardening in the Philippines isn’t just about dodging puddles — it’s about working with nature, adjusting to the rhythms of the season, and staying one step ahead of the mud.
So don’t hang your gloves just because the clouds rolled in. There’s beauty in the rain, and even more in the resilience it brings — to your plants, and to you.
Now go ahead — grab that raincoat, step outside, and make your garden dance in the drizzle. 🌧️💃
Got your own rainy day gardening hacks? Tag me @UrbanGardeningMom — I’d love to see how you keep growing through the storm! 🌿💦
