Dutch Crop tour Week 37
Potato growers hope to harvest at the end of September
Most potato growers in the northern plots of the Gewastour hope to be able to start harvesting at the end of September or the beginning of October. Most of the potato plots have now been sprayed to death.
Just like the southern plots of the Crop Tour, the last few days have also been largely dominated by haulm killing on the northern Crop Tour plots. For example, on the plot in Ens (Flevoland), the crop was sprayed to death last week and the hope is that harvesting can be started in 14 days. The situation on the plot appears to be good, although the yield is clearly lower than last season. The trial grubbing in week 36 shows a yield of 56,8 tons, compared to 71,5 tons last year.
At the plot in Middenmeer (North Holland) we wait until the crop has died naturally. "Last week I sprayed against phytophthora for the last time", the grower says. The plot is currently too green for harvesting. "The soil is moist enough, hopefully it will stay that way. At least 46 millimeters of precipitation has fallen here in recent days. A few colleagues in the area have already started harvesting."
Satisfied with test harvest results
The potato plot in Dronten (Flevoland) is now 85% to 90% dead, only the stem has yet to die. "We will do the last spraying with Quickdown at the end of the week or early next week and then we hope to be able to harvest at the end of September or by 1 October," explains the grower. Although the plot is quite wet, no problems are experienced. "The soil is well-draining. In fact, I think the rain hastened the die-off."
The grower from Dronten is also very satisfied with the results from the trial harvesting. This amounted to a yield of 62,9 tons, compared to 57 tons last season. The underwater weight is not bad either. "I can look back on the cultivation with a good feeling. Irrigation was necessary, by the way, but we were able to help the crop through the summer."
The grower from Appelscha (Friesland) is also pleasantly surprised with the results of the trial harvesting. This resulted in a yield of 65,6 tons. "This is my view an excellent result." Incidentally, the potato plot has not yet been sprayed to death. "The crop is (still) growing well and the plot is still green. Next week or the week after we will spray them to death and then we hope to harvest somewhere in October." Due to the precipitation of the past few days, the underwater weight has decreased somewhat.
Kimberly Baker
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