Do you water in potatos?

[kris1960]

Planted potatos today and didn't think about watering them,now I'm not sure whether they should or shouldn't be watered. If so how much? Any advice very welcome. I

[Alison]

Are they in the ground or pots? I always do mine in the ground and have never watered them in but think I might in pots. Am guessing if it was very dry I'd probably water them after a week or so.

[fishpond]

Unless the soil is bone dry--no, I wouldn't.
I normally only water potatoes when the flowers are apparent.

[WendyC]

No watering here either!

[Martin H]

I guess I'm the odd one out, as usual. I water in my potatoes after planting, to help settle the soil around the tubers.

I've no idea if it makes a difference, it's just what I've always done.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow in containers, plant in moist compost but never water until the haulm shows as I have found they have a tendency to rot.

[Snow]

I avoid it, but planting mine yesterday I did water them in because the compost I used was quite dry and it was hot and sunny yesterday and today. I did not soak them, just a bit of water to start them off.

[kris1960]

Thank you for replies. They are in the ground and very deep. I don't think I've watered them before when I have planted and didn't think of doing so today until I was reading another post about potatos this evening. It was then that I realised that I had no idea and called for help!

[sparrow100]

I guess I'm the odd one out, as usual. I water in my potatoes after planting, to help settle the soil around the tubers.

I've no idea if it makes a difference, it's just what I've always done.

You're not, I do it too. Equally have no idea if it helps.

[muddled]

another waterer here.

[kris1960]

Oh no- not sure what to do now!

[Alison]

The depth I plant my spuds at means the soil has always been moist at this time of year so the potato has water to start growing. It has been fine for the previous weeks chitting with no water so it isn't going to go into shock like a young plant could do. For this reason I always puddle in plants but don't think it's necessary for spuds (they do contain some moisture in the tuber too). I wouldn't water in bulbs either but do seeds which have no "fleshy" store.

[kris1960]

Potatos are the only things that I don't water in but for the life of me I can't remember why and then when I thought about it last night started to doubt my automatic impulse.

[WilliamD]

I water them in when planting them in raised beds or pots/bags. In the latter it's suprising how quickly compost can dry out even in this weather.

[Dorothy rouse]

We planted ours onMonday, I forgot to water, so rushed back yesterday to 'water in', the ones in bags were v dry, and needed a good soak. Hope I've done the right thing.