With the current temperatures and precipitation, the potatoes have started to grow. However, a lot fewer tubers of a plant are counted than last year. This season, an average yield seems to be the maximum achievable.
The recent precipitation and the lower temperature are doing the potato crop good. It was about time, because we are now in the second half of July. However, there is no clear catch-up this year. Late spring is and remains clearly visible in the development of the tubers and the number is also lower than other years. Finally, not every crop enjoys sufficient rainfall. This was sometimes very localized. Particularly in the north and center of the Netherlands, the potato ridges were filled with moisture. The south received a lot less precipitation.
Reels keep spinning
The difference in precipitation is clearly noticeable among the potato growers of the Gewastour. For example, in Hellevoetsluis (South Holland) the Innovators are being irrigated with 30 millimeters for the second time this season. This is to keep the potatoes growing, because there has been only limited rainfall. The wind is a challenge when sprinkling the potatoes.
Despite the lack of serious millimeters of precipitation, phytophthora is lurking. The potatoes are sprayed every ten days against phytophthora with Zorvec. At the moment there is no reason to use a shorter interval. The growing conditions are currently good according to the grower. "The potato plants can be kept growing well by irrigation and with the mild temperature. When the temperature rises above 30 degrees for a week, you're done," says potato grower Kees Trouw. An Innovator plant also has fewer tubers in Hellevoetsluis this season. "The number of tubers per meter is less than in recent years. So what's below in terms of tubers continues to grow well. We can't make up for the late start of this year."
Maximum average yield
In North Brabant, the potatoes in Steenbergen are being irrigated with 25 millimeters for the third time. "I'm lucky that I can irrigate my potatoes," says Wim de Witte. Here too, the wind is a challenge during irrigation. "The foliage continues to grow well, but time flies just as fast." Every ten days the potatoes are sprayed with Zorvec against phytopthora. The Innovators have also been sprayed against alternaria.
"The tubers are only really starting to grow now. It's already mid-July, but before you know it it's August and September again. On the other hand, it's hard to say what it's really going to be in the end because the growing season It will take a while, but it will only be an average yield at most." Having the option to irrigate makes a clear difference, says De Witte.
Happy with fallen precipitation
René Mesken is happy with the precipitation that has fallen in recent weeks, although the differences between plots are large. "In Appelscha (Friesland) I had 50 millimeters last month, but other plots have double that." Thanks to the precipitation, Mesken is able to do its irrigation work well. "At the moment we have it easy because we only have to irrigate a few plots and not everywhere. The potatoes can withstand drought better than heat. That's why I'm glad we don't get weekly temperatures above 30 degrees."
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