How Much Water Do Potatoes Need?

Potatoes need 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water each week. Do not water potatoes daily. Instead, plan to water your plants every 5–7 days. Potatoes grow best in evenly moist soil. These plants do not like to be overly wet or dry. Overwatering is a big risk if you’re not careful. So, water your potato plants on a set schedule for the best results. Adjust your approach as needed to account for higher temperatures and rainfall.

How Much Water Do Potatoes Need Per Day?

Potato plants do not need water every single day. Weekly watering works best. Provide 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week. The outside temperatures and rainfall amounts play a role in how often you water. When it is hot and dry, with a lot of sun, potatoes will need more water. However, even in very dry conditions, they will not require daily watering.

• Do not water your potato plants daily.
• Water your plants on a weekly basis for the best results.
• Your plants will thrive when given 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week.
• Check the soil 5 days after watering to see if your potatoes need more water.

You do not want the soil to fully dry out between watering sessions. So, check at the five-day mark to see when to water your potatoes. Just stick your finger into the soil to check if it still feels wet. Give your plants more water as soon as the soil feels somewhat dry.

How Do You Water Potato Plants?

Water your potato plants deeply every 5–7 days. Give your plants 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water per square foot each time you water. To provide 2 gallons per watering session, water your potatoes for 30 minutes with a soaker hose. This will provide the required water gradually, allowing it to soak into the soil and feed potato roots.

• Water your potatoes once every 5–7 days.
• A potato plant needs 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water per watering session.
• Run this soaker hose for 30 minutes to give your potatoes all the water they need.
• Once the soil begins to dry out, it’s time to water again.

The soil where your potatoes are growing should stay moist, but not waterlogged. Avoid overly saturating the soil, especially right after planting. Otherwise, your seed potatoes might start to rot. Additionally, avoid splashing the leaves and stems when you water your plants. Wet foliage can result in fungal diseases, insect infestations, and other plant health issues. This is why soaker hoses and drip irrigation are a must for potato growers.

Do Potatoes Like Wet or Dry Soil?

Established potato plants like wet soil better than dry. Lightly moist soil is preferable to wet soil when your potatoes have just been planted. A little moisture goes a long way in getting the seed potatoes to sprout. Too much water causes your seed potatoes to rot instead.

• Established potato plants like dry soil.
• Seed potatoes grow best in slightly moist soil.
• Too much water rots seed potatoes.
• Increase watering volume after your potatoes sprout.
• Do not allow the soil around your potatoes to dry out all the way.

Increase the watering frequency just a bit after the potatoes sprout. Instead of moistening the soil, water deeply once your plants are established. Do not allow the soil to dry all the way out between watering sessions. The growth of your potatoes will slow down in dry, compacted soil.

Can You Overwater Potatoes?

The risk of overwatered potatoes is highest before the plants sprout. Seed potatoes are likely to rot when exposed to too much moisture. Excess water can also damage the roots and potato tubers later in the growth cycle.

• You can easily overwater potato plants.
• Potatoes are at the highest risk of overwatering when they are in the newly planted “seed potato” stage.
• Seed potatoes will rot when exposed to too much moisture.
• The roots of established potato plants can get damaged by too much water as well.
• Check the soil before watering to ensure it stays moist to the touch.

Try to keep the soil moist to the touch. You can check the moisture level by pushing your finger beneath the surface. Damp soil is a good sign. Water your potato plants when the soil starts to feel dry. Use this soil moisture meter if you would like exact measurements of soil conditions.

How Do You Know If Potatoes Need Water?

Check the soil moisture level to know for sure that your potato plants need water. Use your finger or a soil moisture meter to check. The soil should feel moist, but not waterlogged. If you are using a moisture meter, water as soon as the soil drops below the “moist” range. In most areas, it’s fine to water established potato plants on a set schedule.

• Check soil moisture to see if your potatoes need water.
• Check the amount of water in the soil using your finger or a purpose-built meter.
• When checking by hand, the soil should feel moist to the touch, but not waterlogged.
• If you are using a moisture meter, water as soon as the meter signals the soil is in the “dry” range.
• It’s typically safe to water your potato plants on a set weekly schedule.
• Adjust how much you water based on the weather conditions.

Adjust your watering schedule as needed for the conditions. Water your plants more often when temperatures exceed 75°F (23°C). Decrease how often you water when your garden receives rainfall. Skip the watering session for the week if you get more than 2 inches (5 cm) of rain in that time period.

Do Potato Plants Require Lots of Water?

Potato plants don’t need lots of water to thrive through the growing season. However, they do prefer moist soil. To strike the right balance for your potato plants, follow these tips:

• Potato plants need 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week through the growing season.
• It’s best to water potatoes once every 5–7 days.
• Give your plants 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water per square foot at each watering session.
• You can provide 2 gallons of water through 30 minutes of watering with a soaker hose.
• Check the soil moisture level before giving your plants water to avoid overwatering them.
• When the soil becomes dry, your potatoes need water.
• Once temperatures rise above 75°F (23°C), you may need to increase the watering frequency to prevent the soil from drying out.

Potatoes are hardy plants that thrive in many soil types. With just a little soil monitoring, you can grow your own amazing soil crop. Your hard work will earn you big potato harvests when fall arrives.