Author Topic: Watering potatoes (Read 1408 times)

suziequeue · « **on:** April 21, 2013, 02:13:46 pm »

This year we are growing potatoes in old feed bags. They are in the polytunnel at the moment and some of them are coming through.

My OH says don't water them until we've finished earthing up and want the hallums to come up and flower - then water loads to encourage the tubers to expand.

Is this true?

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2013, 03:54:51 pm »

I only know that the only time I tried growing potatoes in bags we had plenty of haulm growth, but when we tipped the plants out, expecting a super crop, there was nothing but a small pile of marbles. I thought I was watering them plenty, but clearly not so. Now I just plant them outside and let the sky do the watering

HesterF · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2013, 11:05:31 pm »

I'm no expert but I think you'd have to give them some water. Won't a plant die if it gets no water at all? You want it to live long enough to produce tubers. Mine are in the ground and it's looking so dry, I did wonder about watering them today (oh, and no sign of growth above ground yet, was worrying that they've been in nearly a month and that seems a bit slow).

H

Mammyshaz · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2013, 11:07:57 pm »

Not totally sure but myinstinct awould say the tubers will dry up and shrivel without regular watering.

Small Plot Big Ideas · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2013, 09:38:04 am »

I planted a few quite recently and read somewhere online that the advice was not to water them immediately after planting which kind of makes some sense to me. However I would have to agree with the other comments - I think you should water them at some point, especially if they are under cover