Don't let the rain flood hopes for a vegetable garden

Rain, rain, go away; do NOT come again another day.
I think we all feel like this edited version of the old nursery rhyme these days - enough, already!
True, all the recent downpours have left lawns green and sprightly, shrubs lush and appealing. Azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons bring bright color to the scene and tulips and daffodils have held up bravely. But with all the days of rain, we haven't been able to do much in the garden.
Traditionally, April showers bring May flowers, but this year everything seems out of whack. What can we do?
One very important task is to make sure there is no standing water around the trunks of trees and shrubs. Any remaining water basins need to be broken down and the water drained before continuing storms flood the area again.
Check for erosion on banks and hillsides. If correcting the problem is a major job, don't hesitate to call in professional help. The cost will be well worth it.
Planting vegetables and flowers has had to take a backseat while rains pelted the area. Warm weather crops such as tomatoes and corn will have to wait awhile - probably at least until mid-May when the soil has warmed to a hospitable degree. But don't despair. Those late plantings will undoubtedly catch up fast.
Seeds such as corn, beans and melons are likely to rot in the wet ground before they germinate. Be patient.
One solution is to plant in containers, keeping the pots under shelter until optimum time to set them in the ground. Even tomatoes and eggplant can be handled this way. Just be sure that when you do set them out, you dig the planting holes wide enough to handle them comfortably.
For those with small yards, containers may be the permanent answer. There is the added advantage of being able to replace plants that have finished blooming with new, fresh material.
Containers may range from terra cotta pots to wooden boxes, fancy ceramic materials, even an old wheelbarrow or bathtub. The choice is unlimited, guided only by the décor of your home and preference.
Be sure, however, that the plants you select will really fit the container you choose.
Recently a friend, Dave Hyde, brought me some unique planters - a pair of wooden Dutch shoes. He thought they'd look great holding pansies. Uh huh. I set out to find the right plants - and was lured by some bright primroses in deep plastic containers.
Unfortunately, when I got them home and proceeded with the planting process, I found the root balls were too deep to be set into the shoes. I had thought I could bend the root mass to fit, but that didn't work.
I shall have to settle for six-pack plants if I want immediate color, or sow seeds if I'm willing to wait.
Meantime, there are the primroses, for which I'll have to search out some deeper containers.
There are always garden centers, of course, with a wide variety of containers, all new and shiny. And, if the rains ever stop, there will be yard sales again, offering a host of possibilities for unique and whimsical planters.
I might even set the little plants out in the front border. Now there's a thought!
Helen Bale can be reached at htbale@infostations.com.