Potato leaves are curling - why and how not to lose the harvest.

If you notice that the leaves of your potato bushes are starting to dry out, urgently do something about it so as not to lose the harvest. Experienced gardeners have shared why this problem occurs and what to do to save this vegetable in the garden.

News.LIVE shares useful tips for gardeners.

Why potato leaves curl and how to fix it

Presence of diseases

One of the reasons for the curling of potato leaves is the presence of fungal diseases such as late blight, fusarium, and alternaria. When the bushes are infected with these fungi, spots start to appear on the leaves, which then turn black and disappear.

To save the harvest, it is advisable to treat the plants with garlic or wormwood infusion, and the soil around them with wood ash mixed with copper sulfate. If the situation is extremely bad, it is better to dig up the infected bushes and burn them to prevent further spread of diseases.

Presence of pests

Potato leaves can curl due to pests attacking the plants, particularly due to flea beetles, wireworms, or Colorado potato beetles. If you see holes on the leaves, it means that the bushes have suffered from these parasites.

To save the harvest, it is advisable to treat the potatoes with an infusion of celandine, tansy, or household soap. It is also good to plant beans or marigolds next to the potatoes to repel pests.

Unfavorable weather

If the weather is consistently hot and there is no rain, the leaves on the potato bushes may start to curl due to a lack of moisture. The root system of the plants simply does not receive the necessary amount of water, so the leaves react this way.

To save the harvest, it is necessary to water the bushes deeply at the root, avoiding watering on the leaves. It is better to do this in the morning or evening, at the root and with warm water. After watering, it is useful to mulch the plants with grass, straw, or old newspapers to retain moisture.

Potato bushes may begin to curl due to fungal diseases, pests, or insufficient moisture. To save the harvest, it is recommended to treat the plants with appropriate infusions or take other preventive measures against infection.