Plants are dying, how much to water?

Mark0820 · July 9, 2012

I planted five 5 gallon buckets with Kennebec seed tubers this past Spring. Today is approximately day 85, and the plants are slowly starting to die.

How much water should I continue to give these plants? I have been keeping the soil moist on a daily basis because of the extreme heat we experienced the past two weeks. Temperatures have dropped into the mid 80's this week.

Do I keep the soil moist until the plant is completely dead? After the plant is dead, do I stop watering, but leave the plant in the bucket for 2 - 3 weeks and then harvest the potatoes?

**Tom Wagner** · July 10, 2012

Mark,

I read your comments earlier and thought someone would answer but that was not the case so....

As potatoes die down or reach senescence ....it is OK to allow the soil to remain on the dry side....as least between watering. Too much water or keeping the soil a bit on the wet side will make for swollen lenticels...and ensuing tuber rots. You have maybe two weeks left on your vines if you are at day 85 under optimum conditions. At any time now or in the near future you could even cut the vines down to the soil level and allow the soil to dry, thus forcing the skin to 'set'.....

Showing a picture of the vines would help me suggest a further course of action.

Tom

July 9, 2012	#1
Mark0820 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 907	Plants are dying, how much to water? I planted five 5 gallon buckets with Kennebec seed tubers this past Spring. Today is approximately day 85, and the plants are slowly starting to die. How much water should I continue to give these plants? I have been keeping the soil moist on a daily basis because of the extreme heat we experienced the past two weeks. Temperatures have dropped into the mid 80's this week. Do I keep the soil moist until the plant is completely dead? After the plant is dead, do I stop watering, but leave the plant in the bucket for 2 - 3 weeks and then harvest the potatoes?

July 10, 2012	#2
Tom Wagner Crosstalk™ Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 8407 18th Ave West 7-203 Everett, Washington 98204 Posts: 1,157	Mark, I read your comments earlier and thought someone would answer but that was not the case so.... As potatoes die down or reach senescence ....it is OK to allow the soil to remain on the dry side....as least between watering. Too much water or keeping the soil a bit on the wet side will make for swollen lenticels...and ensuing tuber rots. You have maybe two weeks left on your vines if you are at day 85 under optimum conditions. At any time now or in the near future you could even cut the vines down to the soil level and allow the soil to dry, thus forcing the skin to 'set'..... Showing a picture of the vines would help me suggest a further course of action. Tom