Average planting date passes season 2023

Running and standing still and with fits and starts. These terms well describe this season's potato planting. It is not surprising that the average planting dates are already quite late, with not all potatoes available nationally. That's good to be back at the Innovator plots Crop tour. With the persistent wet weather, the average planting dates will probably move past the last growing year of 2023.

It doesn't all go smoothly with the persistent rain. Potato legs under favorable conditions have been scarce so far and what do you want after a wet winter like this. With the past season still fresh in our minds and the recent weather forecasts, potato growers did not wait too long to start planting potatoes. The surface was not yet suitable everywhere, but time was running out on the calendar and people had to settle for less.

Average planting dates pass 2023
7 of the 10 crop tour plots have now been planted. Although the first plot with the Innovator variety was already planted on April 12 in Dronten (Flevoland), but with the rain that followed, growers did not get another crop until May. a chance. That time was put to good use, because in the second week of May many potatoes in the ground. In the days that followed, some corners and plots were planted again as soon as possible and between showers. For example, potato grower Gybert Doggen planted the Crop tour plot in Wouw in North Brabant on May 18.

With 7 of the 10 Crop Tour plots currently in place, the average planting date is already May 7. This does not include the 3 plots that have not yet been planted. Suppose these were all planted today (Friday, May 24), then you would arrive at an average planting date of May 12. With the current wet soil and the weather forecast, early June is approaching as a new opportunity to plant potatoes. In that case you will go beyond the planting date of 2023, which averaged May 14.

The fact that late-planted plots cannot achieve a high or good yield is too simplistic, as was also shown last season. And of course there are several factors that play a role in the yield. But you simply miss growing days and the yields are usually lower, as was also shown trial harvests from last season. In addition, there are other factors that can also play a negative role. Sufficient moisture at present helps to promote growth, but everyone can see that the first losses have been suffered in certain plots due to the heavy rainfall. And then we haven't even mentioned the poorer structure this year and a factor such as cut seed potatoes. All things considered, it is far from a good start to an excellent yield.

The plots that still need to be planted are spread throughout the Netherlands and therefore not in one region such as the south. Relatively speaking, there has probably been the least amount of planting on a national scale.

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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