Topic: Should I water my potatoes?

[Wicker]

Hey, Gavin, that's what we do - water just along the furrow trying to keep off the leaves as much as possible.  Even then we try to water only when absolutely necessary, think we have watered the tatties a couple of times this year.  they all look great but we don't lift any until about second week of July

[gilgamesh]

My own method, which seems to work on my fairly light sandy loam.

Earth up violently - 9" or more. If planted at 2-3ft centres, this leaves a considerable trench. Lay 2/3 in of unrotted but aged bedding from rabbit & hen house cleanings down the trench, and water the mulch. Watering tops or batters tends to bring the roots to the surface, where a) they dry out b) they produce surface tubers which go green & poisonous.

[philcooper]

With the addition of making sure that the soil is wet before mulching, that seems a sensible way to go.

My watering the top of the ridge follows on from that when, as is now the cas, the tops still flag in the heat