Watering potatoes: when, how and how much?

Most summer residents grow potatoes in large enough quantities, so that there is enough for the next harvest. But not everyone knows when and how to water potatoes, and whether they are needed at all. It depends on how rainy the summer is. If it rains regularly, this crop is usually not watered. But in dry years, watering is necessary, but not when planting.

In the period from planting to seedling emergence, a root system is formed that penetrates deeply into the soil. If this crop is watered at this time, the system will remain weak and shallow, with its help it will be difficult for the bush to get moisture from the ground, which will certainly affect the harvest. When shoots appear, it is also not recommended to fill them with water until you notice that the leaves have begun to droop. In this case, it is worth watering the plant before the first rain.

But during the period of budding and flowering, potatoes need active watering, otherwise in the fall you will collect root crops the size of peas. If August turned out to be dry, then the bushes should be watered until September so that they do not die off prematurely. Watering the potatoes should be stopped about a week before harvesting the potatoes. In total, during the season, the rate of water per bush is approximately 10-15 liters.

If potato planting in your garden does not take up too much space, then it is quite possible to do with a watering can. In large potato fields, a drip irrigation system is usually installed. It is quite possible to do it yourself if there is a well on the site using a submersible pump.