Reasonable yields expected with seed potatoes

During the setting it became clear that the average was very good this season. Many varieties showed a high tuber number because precipitation fell at the right time after potato planting. Many hours of sunshine and favorable temperatures for growth followed, so that the crop was more developed than in other years. At a certain point there was no precipitation and the heat also harmed many ware potatoes. The seed potatoes seem to have just emerged from that heat and real drought.

Average Yield
The yields differ per region, but on average it follows the same line as other years, Agrico reports. "We expect good yields in the north and center of the Netherlands, but there are significant differences with the south-west and east of the country. The yields are sometimes not so good," says Jan van Hoogen, director of Agrico. The trial harvests that they carry out indicate that the seed potatoes are somewhat finer than in other years, which means that there is more in the seed potato size. "What is striking is that we are seeing more scab, and that has to do with the drought."

Seed potato trading house HZPC also assumes an average yield. They also see disappointing yields in the southwest, where the differences per region are large, but in other cultivation areas such as the north they expect reasonable yields. According to Gerard Backx, director of HZPC, the seed potatoes escaped the worst drought and heat. "The crop was only flattened in the course of July and at that time the kilos had already grown. As a result, the drought had a limited impact on the yield. We assume a reasonable yield."

Seed potato growers have now started harvesting. Many enjoy the minimal rainfall of mid-August, but in the meantime the drought is being felt nicely and many growers have to wait for precipitation to be able to continue, in order to prevent clods and damage.