Good afternoon, my reader. Gardeners with large plots of potatoes often face problems with watering during dry summers. However, it is still possible to save root crops from the heat, but you have to work hard, but get a good harvest as a reward for your work.
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Hilling potato bushes
An action such as hilling will help protect the emerging roots from the scorching sunlight, preserve life-giving moisture and ensure the flow of air masses to the potato roots. This procedure must be carried out in an amount of two times per season, but you will not harm if you spud the bushes three times.
Hilling is required for potatoes, if it grows on clay soil and loam, such a procedure will be useless on sandy soil.
The first time they spud the plants as soon as the shoots grow to a height of about 5-8 cm. The process helps in the development of the root system, creates protection against sudden frosts.
The second hilling procedure is carried out 14-21 days after the first, but it must be done before flowering begins. During the process, carefully spread the shoots on the sides in order to carry out the flow of light and air to the main stem.
At the end of flowering, if possible, you can spud the potatoes a third time.
Mulching between rows
To get rid of evaporation, which means that the process of mulching the plant can help in maintaining moisture in the soil. You can, of course, immediately cultivate in straw, but there is not always time to change the planting style, and besides, nothing will happen if this procedure is carried out later.
It is necessary to pour mulch in the aisles after hilling or at the end of irrigation. As mulch, it is permissible to use rotted sawdust, grass, peat, hay, straw or compost with a layer of at least 20 cm. This manipulation solves many problems - it reduces the number of weeding, helps the potato cope with drought and supplies the soil with organic fertilizer.
Refusal to weed weed
Almost all gardeners try to cope with weeds in time and weed their plots at the initial phase of the appearance of the first leaves. But running to the potato site when the first weeds appear is not worth it. And the reason is that the weed, even if it drinks some of the moisture in the rows, will at the same time create a shade for the potatoes and protect it from direct sunlight. Under its cover, the liquid can persist even in the heat, therefore, frequent watering will not be required. However, as soon as it rains in your area, the weeds will have to be removed.
Sowing green manure between rows of potatoes
You can create shade for potato bushes in another way. Sow green manure between rows. They, like unwanted weeds, retain moisture in the ground and shade the roots of root crops, but they will be more useful.
It will take about 5-7 weeks for green manure to grow, so don't be late with sowing.
In addition, green manure replaces fertilizer, loosen the soil and scare off some parasites.
Control of various pests
Summer heat hurts plantings on its own, but it can be dealt with. But such dangerous parasites as the nematode, as well as the wireworm and the Colorado potato beetle actively reproduce and can harm much more than the scorching sun.
So that you do not lose your crop, inspect the bushes and immediately collect beetles and larvae. And to destroy the wireworm, dig in the bait in the form of pieces of potatoes on the site. The pests eat the bait, and you destroy them at this time and put fresh cut potatoes again.
Do you know how to save potatoes in a hot summer?
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