News Potatoes
Yield of Flemish early potatoes below average
Viaverda and Inagro have published the results of the first trial harvesting of the early variety Amora in Flanders. The average yield remains 98% behind the multi-year average after 8 growing days. There are, however, large differences between the irrigated and non-irrigated plots.
Would you like to continue reading this article?
Become a subscriber and get instant access
Choose the subscription that suits youThe yield in the eight Amora plots that Viaverda follows this season varies from 17 to 44 tons per hectare. The average after 98 growing days is 34 tons per hectare. With multi-year average after 98 growing days is 37 tons per hectare. The average yield in half of the plots that have been irrigated once or twice is 41 tons per hectare this season compared to 28 tons per hectare on the non-irrigated plots.
Top Quality
The stored potatoes are also coarser. On the plots that have had extra water, 89% are 50, while unirrigated this is 68%. The underwater weight is relatively high at an average of 395 grams/5 kilos. For the irrigated potatoes, the underwater weight is 390 grams and for non-irrigated potatoes it is 401. "The very dry conditions (even after irrigation) ensure a lot of dry matter in the tubers", writes Viaverda. These dry conditions are also reflected in the number. The number of stems was already lower and now there are three to four tubers less on the plant than you would expect based on the tuber size. The French fry quality of the potatoes is excellent. There is also little loss. There were only a few green ones in between.
