After soil moisture conditions stabilize, collecting soil samples for determination of nitrate content will provide information for making nitrogen management decisions. Soil nitrate tests are most helpful prior to making topdress nitrogen applications. The recent rains have left many fields saturated, if not covered with water. Low areas are very wet. Crops planted in soils that have been saturated may suffer various problems, even if they survive.
Carrots often survive flooding, but the roots have been injured, which results in nubs and forks.
Growers should pull carrots as soon as soils dry out and look for dead spots on the tap root. If there is a high percentage of roots with injury, it may be wise to disk the field and replant. Onions often recover from flooding, but with an increased incidence of internal soft rot. It is too late to replant onions now, so growers should monitor their fields and apply fungicides to control foliar diseases, as needed. Cultivars that produce large, soft bulbs are especially susceptible to internal soft rot.