If a few weeks after the emergence of the potatoes, the leaves dropped and began to look tired, the buds did not bloom, the stems began to wither, and the tubers began to dry out, then the care regime for the plant culture was violated. You need to correct it to save the harvest.
The value of water for potato crops
Water for a plant culture is a source of synthesizing organic substances necessary for ensuring life processes. The meaning of regular watering of potatoes is as follows:
- increase in productivity by 1,5-2 times;
- strengthening of immunity, formation of obstacles to diseases;
- enhancing the enrichment of tubers with nutrients;
- improving the quality of the crop, increasing its weight.
Regular watering of potatoes in the open field saves the fruit from death – it cools the soil when it is overheated. The higher the air temperature, the more often the soil should be moistened.
Read also!
Consequences of poor hydration
Moisture deficiency is detrimental to tubers. If the care for them is violated, a number of adverse consequences will appear:
- the appearance of viral diseases and fungal infections due to a decrease in immunity;
- cessation of the growth of the seedling and the development of the root system;
- deterioration in the assimilation of fertilizers and organic substances;
- a decrease in the number of fruits and the size of tubers;
- complete degeneration of the variety.
It is necessary to strictly observe the timing of watering potatoes, since not only moisture deficiency is dangerous, but also its excess. Over-saturation of the soil will lead to a decrease in the amount of starch and minerals in the fruits, and the development of fungal infections will accelerate.
Timing of watering potatoes
After planting, watering potatoes in the open field is carried out as the soil dries up, at this stage the plant begins to consume moisture from the stocks of mother tubers. It is necessary to provide moderate moisture after the formation of underground shoots of vegetables, the most abundant moisture should be carried out during the flowering period. The timing of watering potatoes, according to Dutch technology, looks like this:
- The first abundant watering before flowering bushes.
- 10 days after the first flowers appear.
- 15 days after the second watering.
- Further, every 5-10 days while pouring potatoes.
You need to pay attention to the weather conditions. In extreme heat, water the potatoes 2 times more often, in cloudy weather and heavy rains, on the contrary, the irrigation of the soil with liquid should be minimized or canceled altogether. You should pay attention to the characteristics of the variety of vegetables, each of which requires certain care during the growth period.
On a note!
How often you water your potatoes depends on the condition of the soil around the bush. It should be loose, but not dry or damp.
Watering rules
In order to have a good harvest, it is necessary to carry out at least 2-3 irrigations of the soil with liquid per irrigation season. In doing so, observe the following recommendations:
- It is correct to water the potatoes in the evening when it is cool outside. It is not recommended to do this in the afternoon or in the morning, as burns may appear on the plant culture from the rays of the sun through droplets of liquid.
- The watering rate for 1 potato bush is from 3 to 3,5 liters of water.
- The day after irrigation, loosen the soil around the bushes to keep moisture longer.
- No need to water the potatoes with cold and salt water. This will lead to rotting of the root system and the death of the vegetable crop.
- The period of active growth of tubers – before and after flowering. During this period, the lack of water is destructive for them.
- Irrigate the ground gradually in several stages. If you pour the entire volume of liquid under the bush at once, then it will quickly spread over the soil, while the root system will receive insufficient moisture.
- In a rainy summer, stop watering.
To preserve moisture in the soil for a long time and saturate it with nutrients after irrigation with liquid, it must be mulched by 2-2,5 cm. As mulch, you can use humus, sawdust, weeds without seeds or cut grass.
Ways of watering
You can water the potatoes after planting and until the season ends in any of 5 ways: under the root, along the furrows, irrigation, drip or dry irrigation. Each of them has positive or negative sides.
Under the root
It is better to water the potatoes at the root if they bloom, distributing the right amount of water under each bush. So, each plant will receive the necessary amount of liquid for full growth. But, since it is impossible to supply liquid to large plantations, this method is more suitable for grown potatoes in a small area.
Along furrows
The furrow irrigation method can be applied after the first hilling. Pour liquid from a hose into each recess in a large volume, and after 2-3 days, thoroughly loosen the soil. A positive feature of the method is long-term saturation of the soil with liquid, so the second watering of the potato can be done after flowering. But, it implies a large liquid consumption. If there is no automatic device for supplying water, then it is extremely difficult to cope with this task.
Irrigation
The method of irrigation is better known among the people as sprinkling watering of potatoes. Artificially saturated with moisture is carried out with a shallow and gentle stream, as well as when exposed to natural precipitation. You can take care of vegetables this way more often than using other methods, while the earth will receive constant moisture, but it will not be washed out. But, each time the surface soil will be more and more compacted, so it will be more difficult to loosen it up.
Drip irrigation
Water the potatoes often in the open field you can use the drip method. For this, expensive installations are installed that irrigate the land in a small amount so that the optimum level of soil moisture is maintained throughout the season. The method is acceptable when fertilizing tubers.
Dry watering
Dry irrigation involves improving the penetration of oxygen into the root system of a plant culture through periodic loosening and hilling. It is performed 2-3 days after the potatoes are irrigated with liquid. It is recommended to water the potatoes after planting until the flowers appear dry 2-3 times.
Features and timing for early potatoes
How often and how to water the potatoes correctly depends on the amount of rain, the type of soil and the type of vegetable. A distinctive feature of early potatoes is the rapid formation and growth of tubers. Therefore, it is necessary to start irrigating the land after it has been planted in accordance with the following terms and rules.
- 2-3 liters of water is enough for each plant;
- the frequency of watering potatoes before and during flowering is 1 time in 5 days;
- after the buds bloom, double the volume of liquid.
To grow a good harvest by mid-summer, you need to water the potatoes abundantly in the spring and do not stop doing this until the season is over. Moisture deficiency will become an obstacle for the full formation of tubers, this will negatively affect the quantity and quality of the crop.
Read also!
Reviews
Catherine
“When I just bought a dacha and started gardening, I was tormented for a long time by the question of whether it is necessary to water potatoes in the open field if it rains from time to time. In fact, natural precipitation may not be enough, especially for a flowering plant, which is why at first the harvest did not please me. I recommend that, regardless of the weather conditions, always independently check how moist the earth is in order to prevent it from drying out. “
Valeria
“I advise you to water your potatoes in the furrows. Firstly, it is more convenient if a large plantation is planted. Secondly, this way more moisture is retained. Cover the far edge with earth beforehand so that the liquid does not spread and the tubers get enough moisture. “
Conclusion
In order to get a large harvest of tasty potatoes in autumn, you need to carefully look after this plant crop in spring and summer. Water it correctly and on time in order to prevent a deficiency or excess of moisture.
