Potatoes are some of the coolest vegetables around. They come in all shapes and sizes, they’re super versatile in the kitchen, and they’re super low maintenance in the garden.
But, one of the most important things you need to know when it comes to growing spuds is when and how often to water ’em.
What are potato plants?
Potato plants are part of the nightshade family, along with tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. They’re native to South America, but they’ve been cultivated and spread all over the world for thousands of years.
The potato plant has green leaves, stems, and branches that grow above the ground, and it produces underground tubers, which are the edible part of the plant that we call potatoes.
How Often To Water Potatoes?
Factors Affecting Watering Frequency
There are a few things that’ll impact how often you need to water your taters, including:
- Soil type
- Weather conditions
- Size of the plant
- Type of potato variety
Soil Type
Different types of soil hold onto moisture differently. For example, sandy soil drains quickly, so it’s going to need watering more often than heavy clay soil.
To figure out what type of soil you have, try the squeeze test.
Grab a handful of soil, give it a squeeze, and see how it reacts. If it crumbles away easily, you’ve got sandy soil. If it stays together in a clump, it’s clay.
Weather Conditions:
Hot and dry conditions = more frequent watering. Cool and damp conditions = less frequent watering. Simple as that!
Size of the Plant
The bigger your spud plant, the more water it’s gonna need. As the plant grows, it’ll start to use more and more water, so keep an eye on it and adjust your watering accordingly.
Type of Potato Variety
Different types of potatoes have different water requirements, so it’s important to know what variety you’re growing.
For example, some varieties are more drought tolerant and need less water, while others are thirstier and need more.
Potato Watering Frequency
So, how often do you need to water your potatoes? It’s gonna depend on all of the factors listed above, but here’s a general guideline:
- Sandy soil = water every 2-3 days
- Clay soil = water every 4-5 days
- Hot and dry conditions = water every 2 days
- Cool and damp conditions = water every 5 days
How to Water Potatoes
Now that you know how often to water your taters, let’s talk about how to do it. It’s actually super simple: just give ’em a good soak. You want to make sure the water is getting down deep into the soil, so aim for about 1 inch of water per week.
Watering Guide for Potatoes
| Soil Type | Weather Conditions | Watering Frequency |
| Sandy | Hot and Dry | Every 2-3 Days |
| Cool and Damp | Every 3-4 Days | |
| Clay | Hot and Dry | Every 4-5 Days |
| Cool and Damp | Every 5-6 Days |
Examples:
Here are a few examples to help illustrate how all of these factors can impact your watering schedule:
Example 1:
You’re growing potatoes in sandy soil and it’s been hot and dry for the last week. According to the table, you’ll need to water every 2-3 days.
Example 2:
You’re growing potatoes in clay soil and it’s been cool and damp for the last week. According to the table, you’ll only need to water every 5-6 days.
Example 3:
You’ve got a big potato plant growing in sandy soil and it’s been hot and dry for the last week. According to the table, you’ll need to water every 2-3 days.
But, because your plant is big, you might need to give it a little extra love and water it every 2 days to make sure it’s getting enough H2O.
How Often To Water Potatoes In A Bucket?
Let’s say you live in a hot and dry climate with average temperatures around 80°F. You’ve got your potatoes planted in a 5-gallon bucket and you want to make sure they stay healthy.
In this case, you might want to check the soil every 3-4 days and give the potatoes a good soak if the top inch of soil feels dry.
How Often To Water Potatoes In Hot Weather?
Let’s say it’s a hot summer day and you have a potato plant in a 10-gallon container. To provide 1 inch of water, you would need to pour about 10 gallons of water on the plant.
If the weather is very hot, you may need to water it more frequently, such as twice a week, to make sure the soil stays moist.
Should I Water Potatoes Every Day?
It’s a really bad idea to water potato plants every single day. It’s just not necessary because you might just kill the potato plant by doing so I mean by over-watering!
Watering potatoes every day can lead to a number of problems, including Soil saturation, disease-causing organisms, stunted growth and Poor yields
How to grow potato plants?
Planting the Potato
Potatoes can be planted in one of two ways: from seed potatoes or from cuttings. Seed potatoes are small pieces of potato that have been treated to encourage sprouting.
To plant seed potatoes, simply bury them 2-3 inches deep in the soil and water well. Cuttings are pieces of potato with one or two sprouts that have been cut from an existing potato plant. To plant cuttings, simply bury them 2-3 inches deep with the sprouts facing upward.
The Magic of Sprouts
Once your seed potatoes or cuttings have been planted, they’ll start to sprout. These sprouts will grow into the stems and leaves of your potato plant.
As the plant grows, it will start to produce small flowers, and eventually, small green fruits called “tomatoes.” (Yes, you read that right! Potatoes and tomatoes are cousins!)
The tomatoes will eventually turn yellow and fall off, leaving behind small green tubers that will grow into full-sized potatoes.
Harvesting the Potato
Potato plants take about 3-4 months to mature and produce tubers. You can tell when they’re ready to harvest by checking the leaves. When the leaves start to yellow and wither, it means that the tubers are fully grown and ready to be picked.
To harvest potato plants, gently dig around the plant with a garden fork and lift it out of the ground. Be careful not to puncture the tubers with the fork, or they’ll rot in storage. You can also use your hands to gently loosen the soil around the plant and remove the tubers.
After harvesting, let the tubers dry in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place for a few days.
This will allow the skins to harden and prevent the tubers from rotting in storage. Store the potatoes in a dark, cool, and humid place, such as a root cellar or a pantry, and use them within 3-6 months.
What do potato plants need?
Potato plants are not very picky, but they do need a few things to grow well and produce a good crop. Here are some of the most important factors:
Sunlight
Potato plants need at least 6 hours of full sun every day to grow and produce tubers.
Water
Potato plants need to be consistently moist, but not waterlogged. You should water them deeply once a week or more if it’s hot and dry.
Soil
Potato plants prefer well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. You can add compost, manure, or peat moss to the soil before planting to improve its fertility and structure.
Fertilizer
Potato plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to grow and produce tubers. You can use a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 or a specific potato fertilizer, and apply it according to the label’s instructions.
What kind of potatoes can you get from potato plants?
Potato plants can produce many different kinds of potatoes, depending on the variety and the growing conditions. Some of the most popular and common types of potatoes are:
Russet
These are large, brown-skinned potatoes that are great for baking, mashing, and frying.
Red
These are medium-sized, red-skinned potatoes that are firm and waxy, and good for boiling, roasting, and salads.
Yellow
These are small to medium-sized, yellow-skinned potatoes that are buttery and creamy, and good for roasting, grilling, and sautéing.
Fingerling
These are small, finger-shaped potatoes that are tender and nutty, and good for boiling, roasting, and salads.
Final Thoughts on Watering Potatoes
Potato plants are the underground superstars of your garden, and they’re easy to grow and produce a great crop of tasty and nutritious tubers.
Also read:
