Onion plots sown almost a week earlier

The seed onion plots participating in the Boerenbusiness Crops were sown on average a week earlier than last year. The average sowing date is March 31, 2021. The growers made good use of the momentum of pleasant spring weather and sufficiently moist fields.

In 2020, all plots participating in the Crop Tour were sown on average on April 8. In that period, the soil was bad due to the wet autumn of 2019 and the lack of night frost that winter, and many growers were waiting for precipitation. The fields of the Crop Tour are not representative in terms of sowing date, because nationally, approximately 40% of all onions still have to be sown.

Due to the beautiful conditions, sowing the plots went smoothly this year and the participating growers can prepare for the new growing season. The frost of February made itself felt with the preparation of the seedbed and the amount of moisture is also more than sufficient this year. This explains why the Crop Tour plots were sown earlier on average than the 2020 season, although there are of course regional differences. 

South traditional in the past
Also this year, onion sowing in the south was up to speed earlier than the rest of the Netherlands. For example, the Crop Tour plot in Ysselsteyn (NB) was the first to be sown (March 23) and the first germs are breaking through the soil. Not much later, the plot was sown on the Zeeland clay in Kortgene (March 29). In Oeffelt (NB) the last plot in the south was sown (1 April).  

March 31 was also sown on the sandy soil in Wezup under excellent conditions. Arjen Jakobs has completed the first spraying activities. "I was a day earlier this year than last year, so a small difference. Stomp was sprayed for the Easter weekend and the showers of recent days are also pleasant."

Sowing before and after the snow
As of April 1, things went very fast on the Gewastour plots. Due to the warm period at the end of March and the wind, the fields dried up quickly, which allowed many growers to sow. It seemed that the onions came in early this year, but now there appears to be a dichotomy: onions sown before and after the snow. Although all fields of the Gewastour have been sown, this does not apply to the whole of the Netherlands. It is estimated that more than 60% of the acreage has been sown for seed onions and with the expected precipitation, sowing onions will take some time.

North region is early
Last season, growers were mainly later because they were waiting for precipitation. They were forced to irrigate for a better seedbed, as was the case last year in Kimswerd (FR). Last year 10 millimeters was irrigated there before sowing. This year the onions were sown on April 3rd, which is almost 2 weeks earlier than last year. The plot now has Stomp, Boxer and Concrete on it. 

The other Crop Tour plot in the north is located in Eenrum (GR) and was sown on 1 April. Dirk Binnema is satisfied: "It is still quiet here when it comes to sowing onions, but it is doing well here. After plowing with the furrow packer, we sprayed 120 liters of NTS (approximately 40 kg N). After that, the seedbed was prepared with the compactor. and the onions in, with Vydate in line." 

Plots of Dronten a lot more passable than last season
On the plot of Aeres Hogeschool, they sowed almost a month earlier this year (April 2) than last year (April 30). The dry conditions required the soil to be worked, then irrigated and tilled again with a power harrow. In addition, the wind did not rain evenly. That was different this year. Jacco Biesheuvel, cultivation supervisor at Aeres University of Applied Sciences, makes a comparison with last year: "Last year was special, of course, the clods did not break and the emergence was low. Fortunately, the plot is in much better condition this year and the seed is moist. waiting for a shower." 

The other plot in Dronten was sown last Friday (March 2). Harmjan Hospers remembers last season well: "Last year we had to rotate the kopeg twice due to the drought. Fortunately, we only need to do this once this year".

Jesse Torringa

Jesse is an editor at Boerenbusiness and focuses in particular on the arable farming sector, including grain and onions. He also closely follows the fertilizer market. In addition, Jesse works on an arable farm in Groningen with seed potatoes as the main branch.

j.torringa@boerenbusiness. Nl

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