Groundwater Question about Potatoes

18 years ago

I'm breaking new ground for a 25 x 35 ft potato patch. My question is about ground water and whether potato plants (next year) will be able to tap into this groundwater moisture.

It is all sand here with very well-drained droughty soil and I can't hand water adequately, esp. in drought years. But where my new garden will be located the ground is lower in elevation. I dug down with an auger and found that the actual water table (liquid water in the hole) is exactly 5 feet deep.

What I'd like to know is whether potato plants (Yukon gold) will root deep enough to use this 5 foot deep groundwater in any manner. I don't mean the roots actually reaching the liquid groundwater, but that by upward capillary action will groudwater moisture come up high enough so that potato plants can use this unlimited moisture supply?

I tried looking this up in books but couldn't find the answer.

It sure would be nice if my new potato garden will be able to utilize groundwater. But at 5 feet down is the water table moisture out of reach? Or will moisture creep up into the upper soil high enough so my potatoes will be able to use it?

Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

jimster
18 years ago
You might get some encouragement by looking at the illustrations in the document linked below (be sure to click the blue links in the document). Unfortunately, potatoes are not included. But it will give some perspective on the subject which may surprise you.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Root Development of Vegetable Crops
digdirt2
18 years ago
Good link Jim and some informative reading too.

balsam girl - That's going to be a BIG potato patch! Growing for market?

I'd be surprised to find potatoes benefiting from water at the 5' depth mentioned. Their roots just don't go deep enough in my experience even with trench planting. And there is the needed hilling to factor in too. But I noted you said this was a low-lying spot, correct? What would be the chances of trench-diverting some run-off to the area? What little rain you do get might not make much difference but if you can also channel run-off to it from other areas that are easier to hand water it would help.

Also working in a good amount of organic matter will improve the soil when it comes to water retention.

Otherwise I be concerned about potato survival in the area and would be investing in some extra garden hose or a shallow ground water pump well nearby.

Good luck! ;)

Dave
Related Professionals
Memphis Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Westerly Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Napa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Great Bend Landscape Contractors · Brainerd Landscape Contractors · New York City Landscape Contractors · Helena Landscape Contractors · Bronx Landscape Contractors · Morgan City Accessory Dwelling Units · Huntington Accessory Dwelling Units · Kankakee Accessory Dwelling Units · Rockford Accessory Dwelling Units · Albert Lea Accessory Dwelling Units · Murrieta Accessory Dwelling Units · Santa Fe Accessory Dwelling Units
balsam_girl
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the replies.

Yes, 25 by 35 is pretty big so I might put other things in there too.

I plan to make another bore hole and lay out the sand in a profile. Maybe that will give me an idea where groundwater moisture starts coming up. I will add organic material and lots of it. I have duff from the forest and peat/muck from an old lakebed.

From the link posted I found a companion volume that has a chapter on potatoes. (Link below) These are nice easy-to-understand books. From the book I found the following: "Potatoes have a more superficial root system than many crops such as corn, winter wheat, sugar beets, and most legumes. In its early growth, it is almost entirely confined to 8 inches of surface soil. After extending horizontally to a distance of 1 to 2 feet or more, the roots turn more or less abruptly downward and penetrate the second and third foot of soil. Roots may also occur in the fourth foot."

ROOT DEVELOPMENT OF FIELD CROPS

http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010139fieldcroproots/010139toc.html