Dutch Crop tour potato - week 31
'We are now growing 800 to 900 kilograms per day'
The growing conditions are currently good and this is reflected in the potato ridges. The tubers grow very fast, but due to the low numbers at some of the potato growers, that does not make up for anything.
While the number seemed very good at the beginning of this season and in most areas there was more than enough moisture at the tuber setting, the same number is now quite disappointing. Against this there are also areas with sufficient number and so far fine size.
800 to 900 kilograms per day
The average number of tubers that you count when raising a few potato plants clearly shows why potato growers are not completely satisfied: There are on average just 2 to 3 tubers missing per plant and the size has yet to come. Opinions are divided about how coarse the potatoes are. With the growing weather that we have had for some time now, the kilograms are going fast. 'Under these conditions, an additional 800 to 900 kilograms per hectare will grow,' reports Schlepers from Dronten. On the other hand, the crop also seems to be on the decline and we are missing the growing days of the cold, wet spring. The fact is that the first trial harvests of Aviko are considerably lower than in recent years.
On the Crop Tour plot in Someren (North Brabant) the numbers seem good. Potato grower Mark de Beer has no fewer than 12 tubers from one plant and the crop is fresh.
The crop tour plot in Dronten has a lot fewer tubers per plant, but they are already a lot longer. The picture below shows 12 tubers from 2 potato plants.
Crop on its way back
The first MH sprayings were carried out last week and that is largely because the crop is on the decline. The plants collapse and the bright green color is also diminishing. Also on the plots that were planted later and that have not been standing very long, the haulm device is slowly deteriorating. Potato growers are hesitant to do the MH spraying a little later in view of the size and quantity. The same goes for Schlepers from Dronten: 'I'm not quite sure when I'm going to carry out the MH spraying. Given the state of the crop, the moment would be fine, but I certainly don't want to be too early.' Some growers also provide their potato crops with an extra nitrogen addition.
Jesse Torringa
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