How to grow potatoes in a rainy summer and how to revive them after rain: useful tips

Potato

Although potatoes are moisture-loving plants, many gardeners worry about how to save their harvest during a rainy summer. Heavy rains can be devastating to the crop. To protect their crops, gardeners need to be prepared for any weather.

Growing potatoes is a simple process, but many gardeners wonder how to save their crops during a rainy summer. Even following proper growing techniques, it's not always possible to get a good harvest. Weather conditions must be taken into account. It's important to learn in advance how to protect plants from heavy rains.

Planting potatoes in rainy weather

With the arrival of spring, gardeners can begin sowing. However, there's no need to rush. Wait until the air and soil have warmed up sufficiently. Otherwise, young plants may die.

In addition, it is necessary to take into account the soil moisture.

Please note: You can determine whether the soil moisture level is suitable for planting potatoes as follows. Simply take a clod of soil and throw it down. If the soil crumbles, you can begin planting.

If forecasters predict rain on planting day, what should you do? There are several options:

planting before the rain. If there's a risk of heavy rain, it's best to avoid working in the garden. This is because the weather could get very cold soon. Tubers planted during this period will likely die, forcing the gardener to replant. Experts recommend waiting until the rainy season has passed. To prevent the seed from spoiling, store it in a dark place and cover it with sand.

If short-term rainfall is expected, don't postpone the work. The danger of planting potatoes in a rainy summer is that the soil will crust over after the rains. To ensure adequate oxygen supply to the tubers, the soil needs to be loosened.

landing during rain. In this case, a good harvest can't be expected. Precipitation will wash away all the fertilizer from the plot. Moreover, the gardener himself may catch a cold in such weather;
planting after rain. Working with wet soil is very difficult. The soil sticks to your shovel and shoes. It's best to wait a few days before starting planting.

It is important to note that if you plant potatoes in a hole with water, the tubers will soon begin to rot.

Rains during the growing season

Only rarely do summer conditions for potato growth occur. Most often, this period is accompanied by heavy rains or drought. Both conditions are detrimental to the plants, so proper care is essential.

What to do if the area is flooded

If heavy rains begin after planting potatoes, you're out of luck. Even if water doesn't stand in the plot, only in the holes, the harvest can't be saved. It's best to replant the crop before it's too late. Planting can continue until June.

To protect crops, experts recommend the following measures:

Make raised beds. A drainage layer should be laid at the base;
It's advisable to grow potatoes in raised beds. This will protect the tubers from getting wet. Excess water will drain into the spaces between the rows.

Caring for potatoes in rainy weather

To grow a potato crop in a rainy summer, it is necessary to provide the crop with proper care.

Particular attention should be paid to hilling. It's not recommended to do this immediately after rain. Firstly, hilling will be difficult and inconvenient. Secondly, it won't be beneficial. It's better to wait a few days for the soil to dry out.

Another important procedure needed for seedlings is loosening the soil. It's even necessary to do this after rain. This will help air reach the root system.

How to save and revive potatoes during a rainy summer

First, it's important to determine the degree of danger. To do this, take a few drops of soil. If the soil is moist, there's no need to worry. However, if the soil turns muddy, immediate action is necessary.

Heavy rains can reduce the quality of the harvest. The potatoes will be watery, and their shelf life will be significantly reduced.

To protect crops, the following measures must be taken:

Mulch the soil with fertilizer. A specialist store can help you choose the right mixture. Please note that this procedure must be performed separately for each bush.
Ditches for water drainage. They must be made between rows.
To ensure that water evaporates as quickly as possible, one must not forget to loosen the soil.

Methods of combating diseases caused by rains

Rainy weather brings many pests into action, particularly fungal diseases. The most dangerous are late blight, phoma, fusarium, and blackleg.

To avoid losing your harvest, it's important to learn how to care for potatoes during a rainy summer. Fungicides should be used with caution, as many should not be used during the rainy season.

How to harvest in rainy weather

Harvesting should begin in dry weather. However, autumn often brings heavy rainfall. Finding a dry day can be very difficult. Furthermore, harvesting cannot be delayed. The longer the tubers remain in damp soil, the greater the risk of fungal diseases.

Since potatoes need to be harvested before frost, gardeners dig the crop in the rain. The dug-up tubers should be stored in a dark place. Many gardeners prefer to wash the tubers.

The potatoes then need to be sorted and stored. This crop should be checked regularly.

Reviews

Anastasia, 36 years old:

"The summer was rainy, so I had to plant potatoes in the rain. All I can say is that the harvest was disappointing. The tubers were stored in the cellar for several months."

https://youtu.be/L9-PMI_j_hc

Getting a good potato harvest is easy. However, during rainy summers, it's necessary to monitor the crops with particular care.