Aphids on potato plants

[Vixen218]

Ah glad I have been watering them every night then...

[rustylady]

Every night might be a bit excessive if they're in open ground. A good soaking once a week is better for them.

If they're in containers they would need daily watering.

[Two_Sheds]

do you find that you get better potatoes if you make sure they are well watered ...? I had a lot of foliage in comparison to the amount of potatoes.

That's because you pulled them too early.

Next time, just have a furtle under the soil with your hand.

Spuds can be left to the rain, until the tubers start forming (furtling will tell you when this is). THEN you can drench them with water: 22 litres per sq.metre, once a week.

Ah glad I have been watering them every night then...

And that is why the aphids are attacking them.
You're making them grow lots of lush leaves, which are full of sap for the aphids. Plants that have tougher leaves won't be attacked: the aphids will go for something easier. The more sap they have, the more they breed.

As you've found out, your every day watering has just given you lots of aphids, not lots of spuds.

[Vixen218]

Ahhhh, thank you two_sheds...
I know know what to do next year now... I still have 3/4 of them still in the ground so I will follow the above advice for them and next year will follow the whole of the advice.
I am relatively new to growing my own as until this year I was only in containers so it is nice to grow in real soil. I am also trying to make my own compost as I have chickens... I don't really want to make the liquid feed as I have nowhere to store it but I am hoping I will make good compost...

[Two_Sheds]

I don't really want to make the liquid feed as I have nowhere to store it

A 5 litre water bottle doesn't take up much space.

I have 2 of them at home, which is enough to feed all the greenhouse