Dutch Crop tour Potato - week 25
Tuber setting in full swing, foliage sometimes lags behind
Tuber setting is in full swing in the French fries potatoes of the Innovator variety. It becomes clear that it has a relatively good number of tubers. The potato crop grows very variable. Growers participating in the Boerenbusiness Dutch Crop tour already see the need to grab the reel.
Last week the first reel was already spinning in a plot of potatoes from the Boerenbusiness Crop tour. Growers indicate that tuber setting has started, so they keep a close eye on the moisture content. It is noticeable that, despite the recent precipitation, the moisture in the soil decreases rapidly.
Reels from the shed again
Herman Schlepers from Dronten (Fl) says that he had counted on a rain shower of 4 to 5 millimeters that was expected for last Sunday. He had also done the last fertilization before this, but unfortunately there was no precipitation. He has not had a splash and is now considering irrigating the second half this week. "You'll be amazed at how quickly the moisture is extracted from the back". His crop is almost closed and after pulling a plant, he comes out on 2 small tubers with four stems.
Daan Janssen from Escharen in North Brabant says that he picked up reeling again last Thursday. He hasn't started watering all his fields yet, but that will depend on the rain they predict next weekend. He has already treated his Innovator to 25 millimeters and a plant on that plot has around 10 tubers with 5 stems. He has not yet finished fertilizing on this plot, he is giving smaller and smaller amounts. Janssen does this because he fears that otherwise the plant will put too much energy into expanding the foliage package.
'Less foliage than last year'
Also in Hellevoetsluis (ZH) on the Gewastour plot, the crop is not yet closed and according to grower Kees Trouwe that will not happen. He sees that there is less foliage than in other years, so he expects that the rows will not close. He states that he counts 7 tubers under his plant, with 2 or 3 stems on top. He sees that the potatoes are growing fast, but that the crop could use a shower. "Now the plants are doing well with capillary action, with the cold nights and the minimal millimeters of precipitation from last Sunday. It is now too early to irrigate, but if the shower doesn't fall next weekend, then I may be able to get the reel to grab." All fertilizer is on it and the potatoes are in the early stages of flowering.
Potatoes from Kees Trouw that have started to bloom. Created on June 21.
7 Tubers that are viable under a potato plant at Kees Trouw in Hellevoetsluis. Created on June 21.
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Potato grower Daan Goense from Driewegen (Zl) says that his foliage package is also mediocre, but it does contain enough potatoes. It has about 12 tubers on 5 stems per plant. Neighbors of his who have access to good water are irrigating again. while Goense has to wait for rain. He does wonder whether irrigation now results in more profit at the end of the ride. He has applied his fertilizer and had hoped for precipitation last weekend, but that was again disappointing. "4 millimeters fell, but you can't call that a real rain shower," says his daughter. The Colorado potato beetle was also spotted in the potatoes last Monday. This will also be taken into account in the near future.
Robin Winter
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