In previous articles, we talked about sprouting potatoes, growing seedlings and planting potatoes in the ground. Today we'll talk about caring for potatoes after planting, namely: watering, loosening, hilling and feeding.

Watering potatoes

It is not recommended to water the potatoes for the first time after planting, since at this time a root system is formed. With moderate humidity, the roots branch out and penetrate deep into the soil, but if the soil is waterlogged, the roots will not be located deep enough, which subsequently will negatively affect the development of the potato bush, since it will be more difficult for it to get moisture. The first watering of potatoes after planting is best done with the emergence of shoots. Water the potatoes in moderation. When bushes begin to form, the need for water of potatoes increases. You should not hope for rain: as soon as you notice that the lower leaves begin to wither slightly, be sure to water the potatoes.

Potatoes experience the greatest need for moisture during the period of budding and flowering. If the amount of moisture at this time is insufficient for the potatoes, this will have a bad effect on its harvest - the potatoes will be very small.

It is best to water potatoes not with cold, but with slightly warm water, preheated to "room temperature" in barrels or tubs.

The best time to water your potatoes is early morning or evening.

Loosening the soil

Surface loosening of the soil, carried out to a depth of 2 - 3 cm, is a very useful procedure for potatoes, which increases the flow of oxygen to the tubers. In addition, during the loosening process, you destroy small weeds. The first loosening is carried out a week after planting the potatoes. Subsequently, the soil is loosened as needed after irrigation and rainfall, thereby preventing the formation of a crust and contributing to the saturation of the soil with oxygen. Loosening must be done very carefully, trying not to damage the sprouts and not pull the tubers to the surface.

Hilling potatoes

Hilling has a very positive effect on the potato yield and can significantly increase it. Hilling accelerates the development of the bush, flowering and tuberization. In addition, hilling protects potato tubers from late blight, preventing the penetration of infection from the affected foliage to the tubers.

During the season, potatoes must be spud 2 - 3 times. The first hilling of potatoes is carried out when the tops reach a height of 13 - 15 cm. The soil used for hilling must be moist. How is hilling carried out? It is very simple: the earth is raked in small portions to the tops with a hoe so that a mound forms around the bush. The second hilling of potatoes is carried out 10 to 12 days after the first. Third - as needed.

Top dressing of potatoes in the garden

To get a good harvest of potatoes, during the cultivation process, it must be periodically fed. During the growing season, root feeding of potatoes is carried out three times, the composition of fertilizers depends on the phase of development of the potato bush. In addition, when shoots appear, potatoes can be sprayed with a solution of macro- and micronutrient fertilizers. Root feeding is best done on wet soil after watering or rain.

• First root dressingcarried out during the growth of the tops in the event that the potato bushes are poorly developed, have thin stems and pale leaves. The composition of the feeding: 1 tablespoon of urea per 10 liters of water or half a liter of mushy mullein or bird droppings per bucket of water. Dosage: half a liter of solution for each bush.

• Second root dressing potatoes are carried out during the budding period to accelerate flowering. The composition of the dressing: 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate + 3 tablespoons of wood ash per 10 liters of water, or just 1 cup of wood ash per bucket of water. Dosage: half a liter of solution for each bush.
• Third root dressing carried out during the flowering of potatoes to accelerate the tuberization process. The composition of the feeding: 2 tablespoons of superphosphate + 1 glass of mushy mullein or chicken droppings per 10 liters of water. Dosage: half a liter of solution for each bush.

Root feeding of potatoes with fertilizer solutions is carried out in cases where we are talking about a relatively small number of bushes. If the area of \u200b\u200bthe potato plot exceeds 100 m 2, that is, 1 hundred square meters, feeding is carried out with dry fertilizers, scattering them under each bush:

• the first feeding (to accelerate the growth of tops) - 1/2 teaspoon of urea + 200 g of dung or vegetable humus per 1 bush;
• the second feeding (during the budding period) - 1 tablespoon of wood ash + 1/2 teaspoon of potassium sulfate or 1 teaspoon of nitrophoska per 1 bush;
• the third top dressing (during flowering) - 1 teaspoon of powdered superphosphate per 1 bush.

An integral part of potato care is the fight against the Colorado potato beetle and other pests, as well as various diseases of the potato, but we will talk about this in the following articles.

A garden crop such as potatoes has a variable drought tolerance. Some summer residents believe that watering for potatoes is not needed at all, others argue that watering is necessary until a certain time (flowering period). So can potatoes be watered?

Definitely, if summer is obedient, then watering for potatoes is required to obtain the expected harvest. It is most important to provide the tops and tubers with moisture in the other half of active vegetative development (flowering period). Novice summer residents often ask the question - is it necessary to water the potatoes after flowering?

In most cases, this is not necessary. At this time, the potatoes are fully formed. To increase the yield, you can add some types of mineral fertilizers (nitrogenous-potash).

If it rains during the growing season, there is no need for watering, even, on the contrary, in places where the beds are likely to be saturated with water, it is necessary to make drainage channels to remove excess moisture. In conditions of high humidity, when there is literally water on the surface, potatoes can be affected nearby.

How to properly water potatoes in a drought? In one bush, you need to pour 4 liters of infused water. The entire irrigation process is carried out in several passes. First you need to pour in about a liter of water, then wait a few seconds and pour in another batch of water. This should be done with all the water intended for one bush. This is best suited for liter containers (a regular glass jar or a scoop with marks).

Do potatoes need to be watered after planting? There is no such stage in the general practice of caring for potatoes. Potatoes do not really like the saturation of the soil with moisture, therefore, watering is allowed to be minimal and only during prolonged drought.

How often to water the potatoes after planting? The intensity of watering depends on weather conditions, potato variety, type of tops. If the tops are visually shown to be weakened, then watering is necessary at intervals of once every two weeks. In June and July, there should be two waterings (middle and end of the month), and in August, one watering in the middle of the month is enough. In total, about 5 waterings of potatoes are recommended for the entire growth period. If you add up the amount of water that is needed for one bush, it will be equal to 10-16 liters.

It is very important to note to every summer resident - in no case are potatoes watered during the day, especially in the period from 12:00 to 18:00 in the evening. This will not give an effect, since the moisture will quickly evaporate from the hot soil.

When to water potatoes after planting? The best time to water is in the evening (around 20:00). The sun is no longer so active, and the soil begins to cool down. In this case, the water reaches the desired depth and saturates the plant with the necessary moisture. Watering the potatoes is completely stopped two weeks before harvest.

How to water using technical means, video

Potatoes form the basis of the diet a large number people around the world. In addition, it is indispensable as feed for livestock, raw materials for the chemical and textile industries. Both large enterprises and summer residents are engaged in growing potatoes on their plots. Regardless of the planting volume, it is important to know the basics of cultivation and crop care in order to get a good harvest. Timely, adequate watering of potatoes plays an important role in the growing process. The root system of potatoes is not strong enough, while it plays an important role as a conductor of nutrients to the tubers. Therefore, it is important to ensure proper watering, as this has a direct impact on the number and volume of formed potatoes.

About watering potatoes

When organizing irrigation, first of all, you need to pay attention to the condition of the soil and the amount of precipitation. On heavy waterlogged soils, additional watering will be disastrous. In this case, the earth must be loosened and removed. weed as often as possible. These measures allow the soil to dry out and allow the roots to be saturated with oxygen. In all other cases, watering is necessary.

Watering potatoes in open ground it is especially important in the phase of active growth of tops and flowering, since care during these periods directly affects the number of formed tubers. The rest of the time before harvesting, watering is also important, since the size of the tubers depends on the condition of the soil in which they were.

Watering potatoes in the open field

Planting potatoes traditionally begins in the spring, when the soil warms up to 12 ° C.

It's important to know! When to water the potatoes after planting, as freshly planted potatoes do not need additional moisture. Natural soil moisture is normal for seedlings to germinate. The optimal time to start watering is the appearance of the first shoots, 15 cm in size. The water flow must be directed to the center of the bush.

A small amount of water should slightly moisten the topsoil. Then you need to wait a little until the water is completely absorbed and re-water until the soil is evenly deeply moistened. On average, one bush requires about 5 liters of water, in hot weather the liquid evaporates very quickly, so the volume of the liquid needs to be doubled. After the first watering, the frequency of the procedure is 1 time in 1.5 weeks and continues until the beginning of bud formation.

Interesting! The budding period is the most important in the process of growing potatoes. It is at this time that the formation of tubers occurs, the quantity and quality of the future harvest depends on how to water the potatoes at this time.

Agronomists have found that it is possible to lose a third of the crop by neglecting watering during the growing season. Frequent watering is also not the norm.

It is possible to determine the need for irrigation in a practical way. The hand should be completely immersed in the soil, if it feels dry throughout the entire interval, then watering is necessary.

Budding period

As soon as the mass flowering begins, the period between waterings is reduced to 3 days, and the amount of water applied under each bush increases to 20 liters. This is the required volume for high-quality deep soil moistening.

The last important stage - increasing the mass of tubers, begins in the second decade of August. Watering at this time is extremely important, the final harvest will completely depend on the moisture content of the soil.

At the time of the wilting of the tops, watering is again reduced to 3 liters with a frequency of 1 time per 1.5 weeks. 2 weeks before harvesting, watering is completely stopped, the tops should completely dry out during this time, this is a signal that the potatoes are ready for harvest.

Potato tops wilting

Basic watering methods

1. Dry watering. This is actually a method of cultivating the soil. No water is used. This is loosening and hilling the earth in order to maintain natural moisture and improve air exchange. The procedure is carried out after the first watering, then repeated three times until the beginning of active flowering. In the phase of active growth of tubers, loosening is possible, but carefully along the aisles so as not to damage the crop. Along with dry irrigation, mulching is often carried out. The combination of these methods allows you to preserve moisture as much as possible, and the gradual decomposition of the mulch additionally serves as a fertilizer;
2. Watering by hand using a watering can, hose or buckets. The hose is a priority tool, since it does not require large labor costs, and water is distributed to any corners of the site due to a change in pressure. To obtain high-quality uniform irrigation, to avoid flooding of individual areas, it is recommended to purchase a spray nozzle for a hose. Watering rules in this case are simple:

• the site must be conditionally divided into zones;
• start watering from one zone and continue until the top layer is completely irrigated;
• go to another zone, go through all the selected zones in turn;
• during the passage of the entire section, the earth in the first zone will be completely saturated with moisture, you can return to it and water it again until it is deeply moistened, and do the same with the rest of the zones.

Manual way of watering

Using watering cans and buckets is the most popular way. The disadvantages of this method are obvious - you need to carry water to the site on your own, which takes a lot of time and effort. The second disadvantage is the difficulty of carrying water in portions in the case of bucket watering. Most often, watering is spontaneous and excessive. A watering can in this case is preferable, since it has a spray on the spout.

On a note! Manual watering methods are the most economical, therefore summer residents use them most often. This is advisable for small areas. When growing potatoes on an industrial scale, this method is unprofitable.

1. Mechanical methods:

• Drip irrigation is a budgetary way to organize irrigation. It is necessary to install a barrel, cube or other container of 200 liters on a small elevation (more). In a plumbing store, you need to purchase a valve, a plug, a rubber seal, a hose (the length depends on the area of \u200b\u200bthe site) and an iron pipe. The pipe should be laid perpendicular to the furrows, the hose should be laid out in the furrows, the barrel should be placed on an elevation. This structure must be connected with fittings, in the right places install taps with a valve. Thus, by opening the valves, water from the barrel will flow through the pipe into the hoses, watering is automatic. The water pressure is regulated by the height of the reservoir;
• Sprinkling. This method consists in installing special sprinklers that automatically spray water around the entire perimeter of the site. These devices are placed above the soil surface. The nuance of using such an installation is that at the initial stage it is necessary to adjust the size of the sprayed drops, since too large drops compact the top layer of the earth. Also, such an installation is not recommended during the period of active flowering, as they wash off pollen from flowers.

Drip irrigation

It should be noted! Automatic watering is very helpful when large potato plantations need to be watered. But their maximum effectiveness is achieved when they are used together. For example, for the period of flowering and active formation of tubers, it is better to choose drip irrigation, since this method allows you to deeply moisten the soil. For easy watering, a sprinkler is a better option, it evenly sprays water throughout the entire area and maintains optimal moisture content.

How to water potatoes for a good harvest:

• During periods of drought or in areas with a hot climate, as well as in windy weather, watering should be constantly abundant at intervals of 5 days;
• In a zone with a temperate climate, irrigation is optimal once every 1.5-2 weeks;
• On heavy soils or in rainy summers, watering is strictly prohibited.

During dry periods, watering should be abundant.

How to tell if watering is good

Watering plays a primary role in the formation of a quality crop. However, excess moisture is destructive. First of all, you need to monitor the appearance of the tops. If the leaves drop and become pale, the buds do not bloom on time, and the stems begin to dry - these are the first signs of a lack of moisture. The following signals indicate an excess of moisture: the crop is rotting, a fungus develops on the tops, drooping watery leaves, and wet spots on the stem. If these symptoms are found, measures must be taken immediately, otherwise the tubers are crushed, and if rotting, the crop can be completely lost.

Important! With a lack of moisture, you need to organize high-quality watering. If there is an excess of water in the soil, you need to loosen it, you can thin out the bushes, this will create space and improve aeration.

Watering potatoes is an important agricultural technique. Success in growing this crop directly depends on careful care. You should always remember that moderation is the main principle of any care. Potatoes need as much water as they are ready to take for normal growth. No need to over-water the potatoes "in reserve". The soil must be kept moist, then the potatoes will delight with a rich harvest.

Video

How often to water potatoes and how to do it correctly? Should it be watered by sprinkling or is it better at the root? We will try to help you with this, so that you can water your potatoes correctly and harvest more of this second bread.

First, let's answer the question of how often you need to water your potatoes and how much water you need. It must be understood that at different stages of growth, different amounts of moisture in the soil are required.

The first increase in water consumption occurs 2 weeks after the emergence of seedlings, since at this time the foliage is actively growing. The next increase occurs in the phase of flowering, tuberization. But if you overdo it during this period of time, then the tubers may suffocate, and you will lose your harvest.

In dry, sunny weather, irrigation is required every 4-5 days. If the days were not very hot, then watering is carried out every 8-10 days. Also, do not forget that you need to constantly loosen the soil. Will answer the questions "Do I need to water the potatoes?", "When do I need to water the potatoes?" and "How often should you water the potatoes?", will tell you about the necessary frequency and correct watering of the potatoes in the garden in the open field, this video will tell:

Non-systematic watering is very bad for potatoes when you leave the garden for a long time. As a result, tubers are formed crooked, ugly, scab. Therefore, if you cannot regularly water the potatoes, then take care of mulching the beds.

In general, mulching needs to be taken care of, even if you water regularly. Because this will not only reduce the need for loosening, will not form a crust on the surface of the soil, but will also allow it to stay moist longer. But not like this: they watered - the earth stands in water for 1 day, and then the earth is dry again for 5 days.

How to properly water potatoes.

Also works well in this case. This will reduce water consumption, and the ground will always be moist.

On average, it is estimated that one bush loses 10-15 liters of moisture per day in hot weather. Therefore, it is recommended to water with 15-20 liters of water at a time per 1 square meter at least every week. The rest of the moisture can be obtained by the plant by condensing on the soil surface and by storing it in the ground using mulching. That's all, we hope that we gave an idea of \u200b\u200bhow to properly water potatoes. Have a nice harvest!

In previous articles, we talked about sprouting potatoes, growing seedlings and planting potatoes in the ground. Today we'll talk about caring for potatoes after planting, namely: watering, loosening, hilling and feeding.

Watering potatoes

It is not recommended to water the potatoes for the first time after planting, since at this time a root system is formed. With moderate humidity, the roots branch out and penetrate deep into the soil, but if the soil is waterlogged, the roots will not be located deep enough, which subsequently will negatively affect the development of the potato bush, since it will be more difficult for it to get moisture.

The first watering of potatoes after planting is best done with the emergence of shoots. Water the potatoes in moderation. When bushes begin to form, the need for water of potatoes increases.

You should not rely on rain: as soon as you notice that the lower leaves begin to wilt slightly, be sure to water the potatoes. Potatoes experience the greatest need for moisture during the period of budding and flowering. If the amount of moisture at this time is insufficient for the potatoes, this will have a bad effect on its harvest - the potatoes will be very small. It is best to water the potatoes not with cold, but with slightly warm water, preheated to "room temperature" in barrels or tubs. The best time for watering potatoes - early morning or evening.

Loosening the soil

Surface loosening of the soil, carried out to a depth of 2 - 3 cm, is a very useful procedure for potatoes, which increases the flow of oxygen to the tubers. In addition, during the loosening process, you destroy small weeds.

The first loosening is carried out a week after planting the potatoes. Subsequently, the soil is loosened as needed after irrigation and rainfall, thereby preventing the formation of a crust and contributing to the saturation of the soil with oxygen. Loosening must be done very carefully, trying not to damage the sprouts and not pull the tubers to the surface.

Hilling potatoes

Hilling has a very positive effect on the potato yield and can significantly increase it. Hilling accelerates the development of the bush, flowering and tuberization.

In addition, hilling protects potato tubers from late blight, preventing the penetration of infection from the affected foliage to the tubers. Potatoes must be hilled 2-3 times during the season. The first hilling of potatoes is carried out when the tops reach a height of 13 - 15 cm.

The soil used for hilling must be moist. How is hilling carried out? It is very simple: the earth is raked in small portions to the tops with a hoe so that a mound forms around the bush.

The second hilling of potatoes is carried out 10 to 12 days after the first. Third - as needed.

Top dressing of potatoes in the garden

To get a good harvest of potatoes, during the cultivation process, it must be periodically fed. During the growing season, root feeding of potatoes is carried out three times, the composition of fertilizers depends on the phase of development of the potato bush.

In addition, when shoots appear, potatoes can be sprayed with a solution of macro- and micronutrient fertilizers. Root feeding is best done on wet soil after watering or rain.

• First root dressing carried out during the growth of the tops in the event that the potato bushes are poorly developed, have thin stems and pale leaves. The composition of the feeding: 1 tablespoon of urea per 10 liters of water or half a liter of mushy mullein or bird droppings per bucket of water. Dosage: half a liter of solution for each bush.

• Second root dressing potatoes are carried out during the budding period to accelerate flowering. The composition of the dressing: 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate + 3 tablespoons of wood ash per 10 liters of water, or just 1 cup of wood ash per bucket of water. Dosage: half a liter of solution for each bush. Third root dressing carried out during the flowering of potatoes to accelerate the tuberization process. The composition of the feeding: 2 tablespoons of superphosphate + 1 glass of mushy mullein or chicken droppings per 10 liters of water. Dosage: half a liter of solution for each bush.

Root feeding of potatoes with fertilizer solutions is carried out in cases where we are talking about a relatively small number of bushes. If the area of \u200b\u200bthe potato plot exceeds 100 m2, that is, 1 hundred square meters, top dressing is carried out with dry fertilizers, scattering them under each bush:

• the first feeding (to accelerate the growth of tops) - 1/2 teaspoon of urea + 200 g of dung or vegetable humus per 1 bush; the second feeding (during the budding period) - 1 tablespoon of wood ash + 1/2 teaspoon of potassium sulfate or 1 teaspoon spoon of nitrophosphate per 1 bush; third feeding (during flowering) - 1 teaspoon of powdered superphosphate per 1 bush.

An integral part of potato care is the fight against the Colorado potato beetle and other pests, as well as various diseases of the potato, but we will talk about this in the following articles.

11

Potatoes are, it would seem, the most unpretentious garden culture. But in fact, even potatoes require both careful attitude and proper watering - after all, such an indicator as soil moisture is very important for the yield of potatoes. Like, perhaps, no other potato plant needs moisture - and therefore proper watering of potatoes significantly increases its yield, according to statistics, somewhere in the six to eight times. Watering rates for potatoes Such a concept as the irrigation rate determines both the number of waterings (how many times and for what period of time it is necessary to water the potatoes in the garden), and the water consumption for each watering. These factors depend, first of all, on the climate and weather conditions - it is quite natural that in an arid climate the number of irrigations will be four to five, in a very dry climate - five to seven, but in a moderate climate, with an even amount of rain during the summer - three -four. The amount of water consumed for one watering of potatoes is calculated depending on the area of \u200b\u200bplantings and averages two to four hundred liters per ten square meters of plantings. Of course, if the soil condition is unsatisfactory (for example, very dry, petrified soil due to dry and hot weather), then the amount of water for irrigation should be increased by several hundred liters. But at the same time, it is important not to exceed the watering rate - excess moisture will lead to the fact that the soil will be waterlogged and flooded. And this, in turn, will provoke rotting of young potato tubers or even prevent the formation of tubers. When is it correct to water potatoes? The moisture requirement of potatoes depends not only on the characteristics of the climate, but also on the stage of ripening. The least amount of moisture is required during the period from planting potatoes in the soil until full shoots appear. At this stage, some lack of moisture supply to the soil from irrigation is even beneficial - it contributes to a more complete use of moisture that is already contained in potato tubers used for seedlings. The more moisture in the soil, the closer to the soil surface the roots will be located - and this is extremely risky, because in the future, the roots can be damaged when loosening and weed control. As soon as the first shoots have appeared, the situation changes - the potatoes need moisture the most. It is at this time that it is very important to regularly water the young potatoes, and it is imperative to adhere to the watering rate. If during this period a moisture deficit is formed, then it has a detrimental effect on the yield: firstly, the number of ovaries decreases, and, secondly, the formation of young tubers slows down. Video: how to properly water potatoes

potatoes, care, watering June 10, 2014, 11:35 pm About the fact that potatoes, like all garden crops, require watering, I have read many times, but I have never watered it myself.

I have this vegetable (as far as can be judged by its appearance and harvest) did not suffer from thirst, and with water in our old dacha it was not too easy - you can't run over a potato with a watering can. And I lived in the confidence that watering potatoes was an agrotechnical "delicacy", without which it is quite possible to do.

But last year's experience made me return to this question ...

What science tells us ...

And she tells us: potatoes are extremely picky about soil moisture, and their needs vary depending on the phase of development.

The most important period is from the moment the buds appear until the foliage stops growing. It is at this time that the harvest is laid, and if there is not enough moisture, then there will be few tubers.

It turns out that for the formation of a potato, a plant needs to spend 400-600 parts of water per one part of dry matter (by weight)! And this is in the central regions - in the southern, hot and dry, the consumption is even higher. And one plant evaporates about 60-70 liters of water per season, can you imagine ?!

So to water or not?

The answer to this question depends on a combination of many factors - climatic (air and soil temperature, precipitation, humidity), soil (composition and structure of the soil, its ability to retain moisture) and biological (primarily, the characteristics of the variety).

A favorable combination of conditions allowed me to do without watering for many years. Loamy soil retains moisture well; Our climate is moderate, rains are not uncommon, and the heat is not frequent and usually does not linger for long.

Zoned varieties in such conditions can well do without watering - it is successfully replaced by loosening and hilling. By the way, loosening is often called "dry irrigation".

If the climate in your area is humid, it is better to replace watering the potatoes by loosening - there will be much more benefit: moisture is retained in the soil, and air flow to the roots improves, and the plant receives in abundance everything that it needs for development. But on sandy soils, and even in hot, dry weather, you cannot see the crop without watering.

Last year I was convinced of this from my own sad experience. As usual, she planted potatoes in several stages - from early May to early June.

This method has never let me down - all the potatoes ripened in due time, and the harvest from early and late plantings did not differ. But not this time ... June potatoes got into the soil, from which the spring moisture has already left.

There was little rain, and the weather was warm, and despite the fact that sprouted tubers were planted, as always, the seedlings did not appear for more than a month! Then the tops began to grow, the bushes bloomed, but ... When the time came to dig the potatoes, all I had to do was to cry: there was practically no harvest from the ridges of late planting, and I learned a good lesson: you shouldn't blindly rely on your own experience if conditions changed ...

So it turns out that there is simply no common, universal answer to the question of whether it is necessary to water potatoes. Some need it, others do not need anything, and still others should not do this at all - the solution to the problem must be sought based on local conditions.

And what is more important: soil moisture should be uniform. Like many other crops (for example, tomatoes or cabbage), potatoes are sensitive to sudden changes in humidity: if heavy rains replace drought, we are highly likely to get a crop of deformed, ugly tubers.

Therefore, if you notice that the shoots are drooping, the leaves are curling or withering, and the soil has dried out to a depth of 5-6 cm or more, you need to water it accurately.

How to water potatoes

Generally speaking, in this matter, how many people - so many opinions)) And probably this is correct: practice allows you to find those methods and norms that are right for you and your plants.

But since the first time you still need to start from something, I will give general recommendations for watering... The best time to water - evening hours.

It is clear that no one waters in the heat of the day, but morning is not the best option: the moisture on the leaves may not dry out before the sun begins to bake and burns appear. Minimum water consumption - 3 liters per bush.

The actual consumption will depend on the soil (sandy and sandy loam absorb more water than loam or peat soil), the degree of its drying, the type of plant and its age. There are different opinions on how to water exactly: watering at the rootand furrow irrigation.

In a dry season, irrigation of plantings is also effective (especially for early potato varieties). The day after watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil to retain moisture in it.

So, in general, that's all ... But it would be very interesting to know the opinions of our gardeners: do you water the potatoes? If so, how often, what techniques do you use? If not, why not?

We will try to answer these questions so that you can water your potatoes correctly, which means you can harvest more of this second bread. First, let's answer the question of how often you should water your potatoes and how much water you need. It should be understood that at different stages of potato growth, different amounts of moisture in the soil are required.

The first increase in water consumption occurs 2 weeks after the emergence of seedlings, since at this time the foliage is actively growing. The next increase in water consumption occurs in the phase of flowering, tuberization.

But if you overdo it with water during this period of time, then the tubers may suffocate, and you will lose the crop. In dry, sunny weather, water is watered every 4-5 days. If the days were not very hot, then watering is carried out every 8-10 days.

Also, do not forget that, in addition to watering, it is required to loosen the soil. It is very bad for potatoes to be irrigated without systematic watering when you leave the garden without watering for a long time. As a result, the tubers are crooked, ugly, scabbed.

Therefore, if you cannot water the potatoes regularly, then take care of mulching the beds. In general, mulching needs to be taken care of, even if you water regularly.

Because this will not only reduce the need for loosening, will not form a crust on the surface of the soil, but will also allow it to stay moist longer. But not like this: they watered - the ground stands in water for 1 day, and then the ground is dry again for 5 days. To organize good watering of potatoes, the drip method is best suited.

This will reduce water consumption, and the earth will always be wet. On average, it is estimated that in hot weather one bush loses 10-15 liters of moisture per day. Therefore, it is recommended to water with 15-20 liters of water at a time per 1 square meter at least every week. The rest of the moisture can be obtained by the plant by condensing moisture on the soil surface and by keeping it in the ground using mulching.