Crop tour Potato - week 32
More stems than tubers with the potatoes
The foliage equipment is above average this year and has many stems. But some growers see a completely different picture in the potato ridges. While tuber setting at the beginning of this season seemed above average, it is now much lower at several potato growers.
It became clear on the fields of the Gewastour that several potato growers had good tubers with the Innovator variety. The potato tops have also developed strongly as the growing season has progressed, but the number of tubers in several areas is now quite disappointing. For example, several plots have only 4 to 5 tubers per plant, while the number of stems is at least 7 or 8. The number is particularly disappointing on the heavier soils.
'Even fewer tubers than I thought'
Early in the growing season, an average of 6 to 7 tubers were counted on the marine clay in Hank (North Brabant). "There are now 4 to 5 tubers per plant," says potato grower Jacob Branderhorst. "I knew that the number was not high and that the growth was not optimal, but this is still worse than I expected." The size of the potatoes is also disappointing to Branderhorst: "I normally see the image you see now about the size 2 weeks ago, at the end of July." Per plant you will find twice the number of stems compared to the tubers in the ground.
More yield by planting closer
Also on the marine clay in Fijnaart (North Brabant) a potato plant has no more than 5 to 6 tubers. According to potato grower Kees Vrolijk, the size is plentiful: "The potatoes continue to grow rapidly, but the number is not high. Fortunately, I planted closer together, with a planting distance of 25 centimetres. That seems like a good decision in terms of yield. ." The foliage device is not huge on the plot, but it still has plenty of green and fresh color.
Leg dates June 20
The crop tour plot in Appelscha (Friesland) received a lot of precipitation this growing season and was therefore only planted on 20 June. Potato grower René Mesken says that - despite the extremely late planting dates - a lot is still possible: "It was too wet here for a long time, but now there is a nice crop. Of course you don't get a top yield from here. But if the potatoes are left for a while than usual, I see enough kilos coming off this, so with the Crop Tour it is extra nice to follow this late potted plot." Tuber setting is approximately 8 per plant at the moment.
Jesse Torringa
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