Earliest average planting date in years

Lots of sunshine, dry conditions and fast work. These terms describe the potato planting of this season well. It is not surprising that the average planting date is also quite early this year. Nationwide, all potatoes have generally been planted at this time. The fact that planting was done early this season is clearly reflected in the participants of the Boerenbusiness Crop tour.

With very little precipitation in March and (locally) April, potatoes could be planted often and for a long time under ideal conditions this spring. Due to the persistent dry weather, planting seemed to go 'automatically' this season. With the spring of 2024 still fresh in our minds, where planting under good conditions was scarce, this is a world of difference.

Earliest average planting date in years
In the meantime, all the Gewastour plots have been planted with Innovator. The first plot of seed potatoes was planted at Philip Kroes from Dronten (Flevoland) on 24 March. While many participants thought that was too early, growers started planting in full force at the beginning of April. In April, almost all the Gewastour plots had been planted. An exception to the rule is René Mesken from Appelscha in Friesland. His Innovators were not planted until 14 May. René was not in a hurry to plant and said: "If you plant early, you will have a relatively 'older' crop as the summer progresses. If you plant later, the 'younger' crop can survive a bit longer in summer during droughts." In addition, the plot was not available earlier because it still had to be drained.

With all the Gewastour plots planted, the average planting date this year is 12 April. This is the earliest average planting date of the Gewastour in six years. If René Mesken's plot were not included, the average planting date this year would be three days earlier, on 9 April.   

Final yield
Although the average planting date varies considerably per year, this in itself says little about the final potato yield. The conditions during the growing season, such as temperature, precipitation and disease pressure, are much more important. An early planting date can be favourable, but without good growing conditions it yields little. The trial harvest figures of recent years show that plots planted later can also yield well.

Trial harvest figures Crop tour through the years:

Jan Willem Veldman

Jan Willem Veldman is an all-round arable farming editor at BoerenbusinessIn addition, he runs an arable farm in partnership with his father in Appingedam (Groningen), where, among other things, grains, onions and sugar beets are grown.

jw.veldman@dcami.com

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