How often to water potatoes
The intensity of watering potatoes depends on the weather, growing season and crop variety. Before the buds appear, water at intervals of once every 7-10 days, water consumption is 10-15 liters per bush. In hot weather, watering needs to be more frequent.
During and after flowering - 2 times a week. Increase the volume of water to 20 liters for each plant. If signs of plant wilting appear, reduce watering to once every 10 days, using 3 liters of liquid for each plant. Read below about the features of watering early potatoes.
Signs of improper watering
For potatoes, not only the lack of moisture is dangerous, but also its excess. Watering potatoes should be done based on weather conditions and the condition of the bushes. Thus, to drought, the plant responds with drooping, lightened leaves, swollen buds, and wrinkled stems. Excessive moisture content in the soil is manifested by the following symptoms:
- watery leaves;
- wet spots at the bottom of the stems and the development of fungi;
- rotting tubers.
Black potato is a fungus on potato stems. It is especially important to monitor the appearance of these symptoms and properly care for the potatoes during flowering, otherwise the tubers will be small. The most important periods for watering potatoes are the periods of sprouting, budding, flowering and tuber growth. Sufficient moisture is one of the main conditions for obtaining good harvests. It should be remembered that excess moisture is no less harmful to potatoes than its lack.
Loosening and hilling potatoes
Loosening, like hilling, saturates the plants with oxygen. It is also called dry irrigation. This is necessary for the development of the potato root system and the formation of a large number of tubers.
Loosen the crop 3-4 times per season. This is done after rain; it is not advisable to do this in the heat.
Carry out the first hilling when the sprouts have grown by 15 cm. The second, when the first flowers appear. The third time - at the moment of growth of the tops. If the bush falls apart, you can spud it again. You can learn even more about hilling from the article - When to hill potatoes.
Signs of excess and lack of moisture
Both excessive watering and lack of moisture are dangerous for potatoes. Plants should be watered as needed depending on weather conditions. How can you tell if potatoes require water or if there is an excess of it in the soil? Signs of overwatering are as follows:
- leaves begin to wilt, look darker than usual and become watery;
- Weeping spots appear on the shoots, covered with a white or gray coating, indicating the development of a fungus;
- the tubers rot and stop developing.
The following signs indicate water deficiency:
- leaves wither, leaf blades become lighter;
- shoot growth decreases;
- flower buds do not open for a long time;
- small stems begin to dry out and stop developing.
If at least one of these signs appears, then you need to urgently take action to save the potatoes, otherwise the harvest will be meager.
You can tell if potatoes need watering by placing your palm in the ground. If the soil is dry below finger level, watering is necessary.
How to water potatoes by month
Watering potatoes after planting in May
In spring, the question arises: how to water early ripening potatoes, since they are ready for harvesting earlier. This is done 25 days after planting, when the sprouts have reached a height of at least 10 cm.
As a rule, only early potatoes are watered in spring.
Watering in June
From the beginning of June, all potato varieties are watered. This is done once a week in not hot weather, using 5 liters of liquid per bush. In hot conditions, water twice a week, the water consumption is the same.
Watering potatoes in July
In cool weather, water the crop 2 times a week, the volume of water is 10 liters per bush.
In hot weather, 3 times a week, the same volume of liquid is consumed.
Watering rules in August
In August, watering is minimal , use 3 liters of water per bush, once a week. If the tops are dry, stop irrigation.
Should I water potatoes in September?
Autumn watering of potatoes will depend on the region where the crop is cultivated. When the tops are green and vegetables are harvested in the fall, watering the crop is possible as in August.
When the tops dry out, watering stops.
Installation of a drip irrigation system made of PVC pipes.
It must be said that such a system is installed quite quickly, within a few hours, but it works very stably in any area: in the garden, in the vegetable garden or in the berry patch.
To arrange drip irrigation for potatoes, you need to take several basic steps, firstly, measure the length and width of the garden - since you will need to purchase PVC pipes, you need to know how many meters you will need.
It is recommended to use PVC pipe for the irrigation system, ¾" in size for the main line and ½" in size for the branch network. For the latter, you also need to prepare tees and plugs. The tees are not threaded, since the connection will be made using mastic.
¾ pipes need to be purchased as many meters as the width of the garden, and ½ pipes - this is the length of the garden multiplied by the number of beds. For example, if the length of the bed is 10 m and their number is 10 pcs. then ½ pipes will require 100 m. All 100 m need to be cut into 10 m sections, this can be done directly in the store.
The next step is to drill holes for drip irrigation of potatoes. To do this, you need to take a drill and insert a 1/8 inch drill bit, and then drill through all the pipes ½ every 50 cm.
To make drilling more convenient, it is advisable to place a wooden block under the pipes.
Practice shows that holes of this size for drip irrigation are the most optimal. The second step is the direct installation of the irrigation network. It is necessary to place the main pipe of the future drip system ¾ on the end side of the beds, at a right angle to them. Lay 10-meter sections of ½ pipes between the rows, so that their ends intersect with the main line.
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Armed with a metal saw, you need to cut the main pipe at the intersection, and then
insert both ends of it into the tee and insert the end of the ½ pipe into it.
The pipe connection must be very tight so that water does not leak through it. To ensure the sealing of the entire irrigation system, it should be done with mastic.
To make the adhesion of the material to the mastic better, you can sand the ends of the PVC pipes with sandpaper - this will make them rough. The opposite end of the ½ pipe is tightly closed with a plug.
This procedure should be carried out with all segments until the structure takes on this appearance.
It is also necessary to place a plug at one end of the main line, and the other will be connected to the water main. If you want to do more drip irrigation, this can be done without problems. You just need to add the required length to the main pipe and also divide it into sections or add another section to each end of the pipe ½ - it all depends on which direction you intend to increase the garden: in length, width or both ends at once.
When everything is ready and the mastic in the joints has set well, you can connect the system to the water supply. It is more convenient to do this with a flexible rubber hose, one end of which is put on the faucet, and the other on the main pipe of the drip system. By adjusting the pressure level with the tap, you can achieve optimal watering intensity.
The proposed drip system is very easy to use and durable. PVC pipes will not rot or rust, no creases will form on them, and the material will not deform or crack under sunlight. For the winter, the system can be dismantled and stored in a shed, and the following year it can be used again for its intended purpose.
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