Potato leaves curl: why and what to do, treatment with photo

If it happens that the leaves of the potato curl, then there can be many possible reasons. You need to first figure out why this is happening. And then start taking action to combat this problem. This topic is extremely important, because with such damage, summer residents often lose up to one hundred percent of their crops.

What can contribute to this?

Every gardener should know what is the reason for the twisting of potato leaves. Among the answers to the question of why the leaves curl in potatoes, the main ones are diseases of the vegetable crop.

Among the viral diseases from which the foliage begins to twist, mosaic, stolbur, mottling can be distinguished. Because of their presence, the plant suffers, its development stops, the crop does not ripen.

If the edges of the leaves of a potato twist, wrinkle, then these are signs of a mosaic. This is a very dangerous disease in which the gradual death of parts of the tops occurs. Most often gets sick in extreme heat.

Another leaf often curls up if the plant is attacked by insects. They are ruining the potatoes, drawing all the juices out of the greens.

Potato diseases

Among the diseases in which leaves begin to curl are mosaic and potato leaf curl virus. There are other diseases as well. They are easier to prevent than to treat.

Mosaic comes in several types: wrinkled, striped and speckled. The causative agents are viruses. Leaves and stems wither, dry, the disease rises from the bottom up. Affects the ripening of fruits, is transmitted to other plants. Affected plants no longer bloom and do not produce crops. The fight against mosaic should be carried out with chemical medicines from the very beginning of the disease.

A viral disease that causes leaf curl in potatoes is detected mainly in dry summers. The foliage curls up, dries up, turns yellow. The disease reaches the stem, and it falls off. It is impossible to germinate he althy tubers, the plant dies.

Potato stolbur affects all important organs. Such a plant will no longer bear fruit, the foliage turns purple, the ovary is destroyed.

Fusariosis is a fungal disease characterized by leaf damage. They dry up and fall off. Stems and tubers rot. The infection affects the entire system.

Another disease that affects the green part of the potato is verticillium. It occurs during flowering. During this infection, cases are known where the leaves withered and curled around the edges. They become spotted, and covered with bloom. After the top of the plant dies, so do the tubers.

Crop pests

Solanaceae leaves can curl not only because of viruses, but also because of the invasion of harmful insects. Potatoes usually grow outdoors and are heavily attacked by beetles, caterpillars, midges, flea beetles and anteaters.

The Colorado potato beetle is the most harmful insect. It is difficult to get rid of him, so make sure that he 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 juice of plants with the help of its piercing sucking mouth, making holes in them. Through these holes, harmful bacteria enter, the plant rots and dies.

If the foliage on the potato curled up, then perhaps the leaf beetle settled on it. It reproduces quite quickly, the larvae eat the pulp of the foliage, 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 start preventive measures.

Viruses are transmitted from seeds or from the ground. Planting tubers must be carefully monitored and selected. Look at them to keep them he althy.

An important part is not only tubers, but also tops. It is important to always inspect it, if any signs of disease are noticed, immediately remove them so that the virus does not spread throughout the plant. Any plant with twisted leaves should be sprayed for prevention.

Fight harmful insects, very often they transmit dangerous diseases. They can be destroyed with the help of products purchased in stores, as well as with the help of prepared infusions at home. Insects are afraid of eggshells, onion peels, vinegar, wood ash. If medicines are combined with folk remedies, then the effect of the struggle will intensify.

Remove weeds in time. This herb can transmit a dangerous disease to the nightshade, which will be very difficult to treat. For potatoes, treatment and prevention of leaf 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 the earth dries out very much in extreme heat. Plants at this time need good and high-quality watering so that they do not need moisture. At the same time, you need to loosen the ground and mulch the soil, removing weeds.

Description and treatment of all potato diseases - a whole science for gardeners. In order not to start treatment, it is necessary to constantly take measures to prevent viruses and fungal diseases. The stores sell medicines that prevent the appearance of pests, viruses, and hence the twisting of the leaves. Spraying crops with Farmiod and Phytoplasmin greatly increases the effectiveness of combating this problem.

Potatoes are first germinated and then planted. A sprouted vegetable is immediately visible for negative signs. Constantly need to make organic and mineral fertilizers into the soil. Before planting, it is recommended to hold the tubers in dissolved boric acid.

Potato leaf curl can come from nearby weeds. Gardeners should always remove weeds, as well as diseased cultivated plants, on time. The harvest must always be harvested on time.

Every gardener should know what to do if the leaves of the potato curl. Properly selected crop treatment measures contribute to an effective result and save the crop.