Waterlogged, flooded planters. Any point in saving the compost?

[Londoner]

As a novice gardener I got a couple of planters last year and grew a few beans and some spinach. Just for fun basically.

The planter are long rectangular ones and had NO drainage holes. Today they are now full of water and are a soggy, flooded mess. Am I right in thinking the only course of action now is to chuck the contents away and start all over again this year? I'm guessing the flooded compost/water mixture is not really of use now?

 

[StephenStephen]

The compost should be fine - I'd suggest drilling some holes in the bottom, wait for it to drain, top up and plant up.

 

[Tigercubrider]

Think about it.

Fields or gardens flood. The soil is fine

 

[JohnD]

are they full of soil? Or of compost? Peat-based and similar composts have minerals added to them which will wash out. Soil and John Innes types are more resilient.

I like to dig out my soil-filled pots and mix in 25% growbag each year, which is cheap and easy. Vegetables gobble up the fertiliser content so you will need to add something.

 

[Diyisfun]

If you have a garden, tip the spent compost on the flower beds & start again with fresh. You will get bed flower borders as well.
If you have no other garden, you will need to mix some fertiliser in.

 

[Londoner]

Fair enough. Thanks. I'll see if I can salvage some of it and drill holes in the planters.