If it happens that potato leaves curl, there can be many possible reasons. You need to first figure out why this is happening. And then begin to take measures to combat this problem. This topic is extremely important, because with such damage, gardeners often lose up to one hundred percent of their harvest.
What could contribute to this?
Every gardener should know what causes potato leaves to curl. Among the answers to the question why potato leaves curl, the main ones are diseases of the vegetable crop.
Among the viral diseases that cause foliage to curl are mosaic, stolbur, and mottling. Due to their presence, the plant suffers, its development stops, and the harvest does not ripen.
If the edges of potato leaves curl and wrinkle, then these are signs of a mosaic. This is a very dangerous disease in which parts of the tops gradually die off. Most often it gets sick in extreme heat.
The leaf often curls up if the plant is attacked by insects. They destroy potatoes, drawing out all the juices from the greens.
Potato diseases
Among the diseases that cause leaves to curl are mosaic and potato leaf curl virus. There are other diseases. They are easier to prevent than to treat.
There are several types of mosaic: wrinkled, striped and speckled. The causative agents are viruses. Leaves and stems wither, dry out, the disease rises from below to above. Affects fruit ripening and is transmitted to other plants. Affected plants no longer bloom and produce crops. The fight against mosaic should be carried out with the help of chemical drugs from the very beginning of the disease.
A viral disease that causes potato leaves to curl is detected mainly in dry summers. The foliage curls up, dries out, and turns yellow. The disease reaches the stem and it falls off. It is impossible to germinate healthy tubers; the plant dies.
Potato pillar affects all important organs. Such a plant will no longer bear fruit, the foliage turns purple, and the ovary is destroyed.
Fusarium is a fungal disease that is characterized by damage to leaves. They dry out and fall off. Stems and tubers rot. The infection affects the entire system.
Another disease that affects the green part of potatoes is verticillium. It occurs during flowering. During this infection, leaves have been known to wilt and curl at the edges. They become spotted and covered with plaque. After the top part of the plant dies, the tubers also die.
Pests of crops
Nightshade leaves can curl not only due to viruses, but also due to the invasion of harmful insects. Potatoes usually grow in open ground and suffer greatly from attacks by beetles, caterpillars, midges, flea beetles and anteaters.
The Colorado potato beetle is the most harmful insect. It is difficult to get rid of it, so make sure that it does not appear in the garden.
The jumping insect cicada is a carrier of dangerous viral diseases and infections. At night, it feeds on the sap of plants using its piercing sucking mouth, making holes in them. Harmful bacteria penetrate through these holes, causing the plant to rot and die.
If the foliage on the potato is curled, then a leaf beetle may have settled on it. It multiplies quite quickly, the larvae eat the pulp of the leaves, and the plant cannot develop normally.
How to prevent curling?
Diseases that kill potato leaves are easier to prevent than to cure. It is better not to wait for acute symptoms to appear, but to begin preventive measures.
Viruses are transmitted from seeds or from the soil. It is necessary to carefully monitor and select planting tubers. Watch them to be healthy.
An important part is not only the tubers, but also the tops. It is important to always inspect it; if any signs of disease are noticed, remove them immediately so that the virus does not spread throughout the plant. Any plant with curled leaves should be sprayed as a preventive measure.
Fight harmful insects, very often they transmit dangerous diseases. They can be destroyed using products purchased in stores, as well as using prepared infusions at home. Insects are afraid of eggshells, onion peels, vinegar, and wood ash. If medicines are combined with folk remedies, the fighting effect will increase.
Remove weeds on time. This herb can transmit a dangerous disease to nightshades, which will be very difficult to treat. For potatoes, treatment and prevention of foliar diseases are important, as the crop is saved.
How to deal with the problem?
Sometimes the reason that the leaves on potatoes curl is that in extreme heat the soil dries out very much. At this time, plants need good and high-quality watering so that they do not need moisture. In this case, you need to loosen the soil and mulch the soil, removing weeds.
The description and treatment of all potato diseases is a whole science for gardeners. In order not to start treatment, it is necessary to constantly take measures to prevent viruses and fungal diseases. Stores sell medications that prevent the appearance of pests, viruses, and therefore the curling of leaves. Spraying crops with Farmayod and Phytoplasmin greatly increases the effectiveness of combating this problem.
Potatoes are first germinated and then planted. A sprouted vegetable is immediately visible for the presence of negative signs. It is constantly necessary to add organic and mineral fertilizers to the soil. Before planting, it is recommended to keep the tubers in dissolved boric acid.
Curling of potato leaves can occur from nearby weeds. Gardeners should always remove weeds and diseased crops in a timely manner.The harvest must always be harvested on time.
Every gardener should know what to do if potato leaves curl. Properly selected measures for treating crops contribute to effective results and saving the crop.
