Crop tour Week 34 - Potatoes
Challenge to keep growth in the potatoes
Potato growers are trying to keep the potato tops green and alive this growing season in order to gain extra kilos. This requires water, but also control over phytophthora. Due to the higher temperature of the past few days with high humidity and the high infection pressure of phytophthora, it is a challenge to maintain growth.
The growers participating in the Boerenbusiness Crop Tour hope to keep their Innovator plots growing until at least mid-September. The weather conditions will determine the wear of the crop in the coming weeks. Infestations by phytophthora cause the crop to wear even harder. The fungus remains present in the crop, growers see, so a strict spraying schedule in crop protection remains necessary.
Wear visible
At Daan Tap in Elst (GL) the tubers continue to grow. "In the plot, a difference is visible in the foliage. Most of the plot is green and part of the plot is starting to wear faster. I can't explain why the crop wears faster in that part of the plot" , says Daan Tap. "The type of soil on the whole plot is the same."
Phytophthora can handle Tap well. "This is also because few potatoes are grown in this area. As a result, the pressure from the area itself is not high." Nevertheless, Tap is on top of it to keep the foliage healthy. "I have never kept such a tight schedule as this year." The crop should last until mid-September and then Innovator will be sprayed to death, or so it is expected. This is done because the potatoes are grown on river clay. As a result, Tap wants to be able to harvest his potatoes at the beginning of October.
Precipitation needed to maintain growth
In Zeewolde (FL) at Thomas Zandee it is a challenge to get phytophthora under control. "The organic potatoes in the region have since burned off, which has reduced the phytophthora pressure from the area. Nevertheless, the disease is still very present," says Zandee. "We had to spray extra curatively in recent weeks. It is now important to keep the growth going. It is starting to get drier in the potato ridge, so we hope that there will be some rain in the coming days and that the potatoes can continue to grow for another four weeks. "
There is also a need for precipitation in Hellevoetsluis in South Holland. "The potatoes need water to keep the foliage vital. There is still enough moisture in the ridge to continue growing. It is important to maintain the vitality of the foliage," says Kees Trouw. "The nights are humid with high temperatures during the day, we remain alert to Phytophthora. I found a few leaves with Phytophthora in my potatoes. That's important to keep it curatively under control."
It remains a guess how much the potatoes can still grow with the weather conditions. "I hope to keep my Innovator plot going for another three weeks," says Kees Trouw.
Higher costs due to phytophthora
René Mesken currently has the phytophthora under control in Appelscha. "Phytophthora has done damage on several plots, as I can see now" says Mesken. "It has caused me to incur extra costs in the past three weeks with curative sprays to combat phytophthora." Mesken is clear about the upcoming growth in the coming weeks: "We are not going to make up for the backlog of late planting this year unless we have the courage to leave the potatoes green for a long time. That is the choice you have to dare to make."
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