What is wrong with my potatoes

[a.brooke.c]

This is my 1st time growing potatoes and I'm not sure what's wrong with them....

Im zone 8b
I planted them March the 1st
I'm not sure what kind they are other than they are suppose to be red potatoes?....

Ok so they started out great! I wasn't having a problem at all until stink bugs got into them.... That's when all the brown spots and some wilting started. I assumed they was from the stink bugs somehow. I put seven dust on them and the stink bugs left but now I feel like they are not really growing like they was and some wilting is still happening.

[imafan26]

Is that a metal horse trough. If it gets hot to touch on a hot day, try putting some pieces of styrofoam and unsulate it. Metal will get very hot and plants will wilt in the afternoon and it will dry out the soil faster.

Some of that looks like physiologic leaf roll
http://mtvernon.wsu.edu/path_team/Case- ... potato.pdf

[a.brooke.c]

It is... I'll keep a eye on how hot it gets and put insulation around it if needed. I would think all of them would be wilting but it's only random ones doing it. As for the left curling is there anything I can do for that?

[jal_ut]

Usually when plants wilt, it means they need water. The roots of a potato plant in the ground will go 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Ya, that is a large tub, but it doesn't give the roots that much room. Do you irrigate there or just rely on rainfall? If you see wilting, give them some water.

[jal_ut]

Crazy software. Don't know why I get a double post? Guess I ain't smart enough to make it run right?

[applestar]

Be sure it's draining well, too.

[Lindsaylew82]

How is the drainage?

If it's just the one plant wilting, and the others are looking fine, I would think something more like bacterial wilt or something like that.

[imafan26]

potatoes are susceptible to a number of viruses and they can cause leaf curling as a symptom.

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell. ... _Virus.htm

[a.brooke.c]

Usually when plants wilt, it means they need water. The roots of a potato plant in the ground will go 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Ya, that is a large tub, but it doesn't give the roots that much room. Do you irrigate there or just rely on rainfall? If you see wilting, give them some water.

I irrigate but only once a week if we don't get a inch or more of rain.

[a.brooke.c]

How is the drainage?

If it's just the one plant wilting, and the others are looking fine, I would think something more like bacterial wilt or something like that.

As far as I can tell its draining well. I have holes in the bottom and also about three or four inch up on the sides.

[a.brooke.c]

I keep seeing that is say aphids cause most of the problems i am having but I really have seen any. I'll go and inspect them closely tomorrow.

What is the best way to control my problems?

Fungicides?
Home remedies?
Pest control?

What are the best ones to use??

I didn't really think potatoes could be this big of a problem. They done so well to begin with. I didn't think I would have to do to much to them. Was told they do not like ferltizer and don't need much water..... Grrrrrrrr

[Lindsaylew82]

I would give them a good soaking to start with, and see what that does for you. The MOST common causes of physiological leaf roll and wilting are environmental. Not enough water, not enough root space, too hot, stuff like that. So, before you knee jerk and dump a bunch or real unnessecary chemical on your food, I would start with the simplest thing first. Water.

And I mean water them good, that's a big planter!

[a.brooke.c]

I would give them a good soaking to start with, and see what that does for you. The MOST common causes of physiological leaf roll and wilting are environmental. Not enough water, not enough root space, too hot, stuff like that. So, before you knee jerk and dump a bunch or real unnessecary chemical on your food, I would start with the simplest thing first. Water.

And I mean water them good, that's a big planter!

Well between Tuesday and yesterday we have gotton two inches of rain but I'll still water them.... As long as they can drain alright they will be fine?

Also what I thought was stink bug are really squash bugs?

[Gary350]

I don't grow in, pots, containers or raised beds I never had much luck with it and it is not natures way. Your growing success has a lot to do with, your soil, your geographical location, weather conditions, and the conditions each type plant needs. I use to grow good potatoes in Illinois and not even try. I have never had good luck with potatoes in TN until this year. I planted a different type potato that is more suited for TN weather and planted potatoes a different way. I planted 3 different crops of potatoes 3 different times they are all doing very well so far. What works for other people on this forum may not work for me or you.

[rainbowgardener]

RE: Well between Tuesday and yesterday we have gotten two inches of rain but I'll still water them.

Don't ... two inches of rain is plenty!

Squash bugs and stink bugs are closely related and both are bad garden pests. I think your guy is the squash bug. As the name suggests, they prefer squash family plants, but if you don't have them in your garden, they will travel to other things.

They can cause damage from sucking the juices from the plant:



under heavy attack, the plant will wilt:



They are a difficult pest to get rid of. Put a board or shingle flat on the ground. Come back in the morning and lift it and you may find them congregating under it. Diatomaceous earth may be effective against them (but they are pretty hard-shelled, so maybe not). Thorough watering brings the squash bugs out in open to the top of the plants, where they are easier to capture. If you have a little hand vacuum cleaner, you can try vacuuming them off your plants. Check the undersides of your leaves frequently for their eggs, laid in neat rows:



again all of this would be much more common on squash family plants.