Watering spuds through mulch query

[vikkib]

I'm planning on mulching my spuds today with shredded paper. I'm hoping to keep the weeds down, keep moisture in the soil and have something beneficial to dig in at the end of the season.

I'm going to dampen the shredded paper with water first to stop it blowing away.

My main query is about watering the spuds once the mulch is in place and let it soak through?

Do I just water the paper or would it be best to sink some bottles/downpipes in between rows to water into if I can get hold of some?

[Bigmallly]

I covered my tattie bed with sheets of newspaper with a layer of rotted chippings on top to hold it down. I then planted my tatties through the newspaper. I'm just gonna water through the paper if needed but I am hoping that the mulch will hold the moisture in that is already there.

[vikkib]

I covered my tattie bed with sheets of newspaper with a layer of rotted chippings on top to hold it down. I then planted my tatties through the newspaper. I'm just gonna water through the paper if needed but I am hoping that the mulch will hold the moisture in that is already there.

To be honest I'm hoping that I won't have to water much if at all as well.

I guess I'm a little nervous as I've never done spuds like this before and after a miserable crop last year I'd like to give these the best chance!

I'm already battling against spotted snake spot millipedes in the patch!

[zazen999]

I don't ever water spuds.

[SarzWix]

Apparently, having goggled, Spotted Snake millipedes are most likely to follow on from damage caused by other pests, and, are more of a problem in drought because they try to get moisture from spuds/onions. So it might be a good idea to nematode the bed for slugs to avoid the initial damage, and hopefully the mulch will keep the moisture in the soil up.

For watering with a mulch, I usually just soak the rows and assume it filters down. But then being in the NW, with clayish soil, moisture isn't usually an issue here

[Alison]

I don't water spuds in open ground either.

[Two_Sheds]

would it be best to sink some bottles/downpipes in between rows to water into if I can get hold of some?

Yes.
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Watering the soil surface is extremely wasteful (most of it just evaporates) ~ it also creates shallow rooting systems, as the plants grow their roots near the surface where the watering comes.

If you water into bottles like in the link, the water goes DOWN into the soil and the roots will chase it down,making the plants more drought-tolerant in the future

[Potstubsdustbins]

Remembering of course spuds are mostly water, so a lack of water will lead to a reduced crop.

Potty

[Martin H]

I don't water potatoes often, damp encourages blight. But I've found if they get too dry it really affects the yield, so in the last few weeks before they mature I will, once or twice, flood the trenches in between rows, to give them a really thorough soaking.

Obviously it's tough to do that through a mulch layer.

[vikkib]

Lovely! Thanks all!

I've mulched the main crop spuds but ran out of shredded paper for the first earlies but there's a steady stream of the stuff so I'll keep going as I get more.

I've laid cardboard in between the rows which I can easily lift once the nematodes I'll order arrive so I can give the area a soak with those to try and prevent the slug damage.



I'm going to try and resist the urge to water the plants unless they're actually wilting and see how it goes. The spuds are at the furthest point from the water and my back will greatly appreciate not lugging watering cans back and forth!

[alldigging]

That's really pretty!

[Bigmallly]

Good job, hope the wind doesn't return Vikki...............

[vikkib]

That's really pretty!

Ta! It looks a bit scruffy to me but if it means I actually get some spuds and can also improve the soil a bit when I dig it all in I'm happy! I'm also loving the bands of pink and yellow paper in there!

Good job, hope the wind doesn't return Vikki...............

I have fleece at hand in case it does! ; )

I did put some dampened shredded down around some new raspberry canes a couple of weeks ago and that was fine even in very high winds but I think that area of the plot is a little more sheltered than this spot!

[Two_Sheds]

I don't water potatoes often, damp encourages blight.

Well, kind of. It's wet foliage during a Smith period, that's going to give you blight.
Really, nobody should be watering leaves anyway: plants drink through their roots. Wet leaves leads to all kinds of fungal problems, esp. if plants are crowded.

I'm going to try and resist the urge to water the plants unless they're actually wilting

Spuds need the water towards the end of their stay in the soil, when the tubers are bulking up: so give them lots just before harvest, say July/Aug

[vikkib]

Spuds need the water towards the end of their stay in the soil, when the tubers are bulking up: so give them lots just before harvest, say July/Aug

Righto! Closer to the time I'll lift the cardboard between rows and give them a good few soaks. : )