How far along is the growing season compared to other years?

It is not surprising that the average planting date at the Boerenbusiness The Crop Tour fell particularly early this year, after the spring of 2025 was so dry. In that respect, there was enough potential for the potato crop to build up a considerable lead compared to other years. This can be seen during a round in the field. What is the crop status on the various Crop Tour plots?

This comparison looked at the current crop status of various Gewastour plots with the Innovator variety in relation to previous years. Some growers have been participating for several years, which makes a direct comparison possible. For participants who have only recently joined, this is less possible.

The current growing season is characterised by dry weather. Almost all Gewastour plots were planted very early on average, and have already had a rain reel visit. Despite this, the crop is growing well, although it is not easy to keep it going in this dry weather, according to the various participants. In the images of the various plots, not always a single plant has been pulled up, but in some cases two or even three. The number of tubers that are lying there can therefore be from multiple plants.

From Groningen to Zeeland
Starting with the Gewastour plot of Gybert Doggen from Wouw in Brabant. Last week he completed his second irrigation round, in which he gave 30 millimeters of water. Gybert works with an irrigation sensor, but notes that the moment at which irrigation is no longer necessary (according to the sensor) does not seem to come. "Some tubers are still very small and we have to wait and see which ones will remain", Gybert indicates. The Gewastour participant also expects to start irrigation for the third time this week with the upcoming weather forecast. Compared to previous years, the difference is visible in the photo compilation below. It is still too early to talk about yields, because it has already been shown that planting later does not necessarily result in a lower yield. For example, the net yield in Wouw last year came to almost 49 tons per hectare.

Brian Salomé from IJzendijke (Zeeland) is participating in the Gewastour for the third time this year. That it has been very dry this year so far is clearly visible in Brian's case. Since planting, he has had less than 50 millimetres of water in total. "The crop is now in bloom, although I think it is still an open crop", says Brian. In IJzendijke, Brian cannot irrigate, at most he can have water supplied externally. When asked whether this is interesting for him, he says: "The costs are at least €1.000 per hectare and with the expected pricing, which is quite negative, it is becoming less and less interesting."

A little further north, in Hellevoetsluis (South Holland), lies Kees Trouw's Gewastour plot. Last week, he irrigated his Innovators for the first time with 25 millimetres. For comparison, Kees pulled up three plants this year, and he indicates that there are 22 viable tubers underneath. After irrigation, the tubers lie nicely in the moisture, he indicates. Last year, Kees Trouw's Gewastour plot came out at 63,5 tonnes per hectare. With this, he was above the average of all Gewastour plots, which averaged 56,8 tonnes.

In Elst in Gelderland we end up at Daan Tap. Daan was also irrigating for the second time last week. "It is not easy to keep the crop growing in this dry weather." Now that it is so dry, the phytophthora pressure is not too bad, he says. Nevertheless, he has sprayed against it four times now. Last year, Daan's yield was 72,1 tons per hectare, also well above average.

The Gewastour plot at Philip Kroes in Dronten (Flevoland) was the first to be planted this year on 24 March. Potato grower Adriaan Wortman irrigated the plot for the first time last week and is very pleased with the current state of the crop. Last year, the plot was split in two, Adriaan indicates. "After the tulip harvest last year, we sowed a green manure. I noticed that the potatoes are doing better on that side of the plot than on the other side, where the onions were."

At Wouter Vierboom from Leuth in Gelderland, the Innovators have also got a good grip on growth. He himself is very pleased with the development of the crop, but previously doubted whether he should irrigate in connection with the development of the current potato prices.

The Groningen participants Jan Kolhorn from Uithuizermeeden and Alex van Erp from Midwolda are both participating in the Gewastour for the first time this year. Jan indicates that the potatoes have just closed and are starting to bloom nicely. "We could do with some significant rain soon, because irrigation is not allowed here." That also outlines the current situation that Jan finds the number to be just normal for an Innovator.

Alex, on the other hand, can irrigate. "The Gewastour plot has already produced a fair amount of tubers, so I'll wait another week before irrigating for the first time. I'll give priority to the plots that are now producing tubers." Alex also thinks that the Gewastour plot looks fresh.

René Mesken from Appelscha in Friesland was the last of the Crop Tour group to plant his Innovators on 14 May. René's idea behind this was that if you plant early, you will have a relatively 'older' crop as the summer progresses. If you plant later, the 'younger' crop can survive longer in summer droughts. In addition, the plot was not available earlier because it still had to be drained. With this tactic, René can still go quite far. No year is the same, but last year René came home with the highest yield of the Crop Tour participants. With 78,4 tonnes, he was well above average.

In Voerendaal in South Limburg, Ruud and Lotte Steinbusch also irrigated the Innovators for the first time. "As long as they have enough moisture, they can get very far this year. Only that is not really easy this way", Lotte emphasizes. Nevertheless, they do have the idea that the potatoes are doing better at the moment than last year.  

Average tuber size per growing season
The current growing season has been clearly different to 2023 and 2024. While it is dry this year, the previous two years started with a wet start. In 2023, the wet start was followed by lean weather, which caused the season to suffer a significant growth deficit. 2024 also had a similar average course. This makes 2025 the odd one out. Compared to the growth stage that the crops were in on 10 July 2023 and 2024, we are already at a similar point on 19 June this year.

With the earliest average planting date in years, the 2025 growing season has started considerably earlier than in the previous two years. On June 19, the season already has 69 growing days, compared to 10 on July 64 last year, and only 2023 in 58. Based on the data, and comparisons with growers from the past years, this growing season is three weeks ahead.

Whether the final crop yield can actually benefit from the head start that the growing season currently has, depends entirely on the further course of June, July and actually August in particular. If the drought continues in the coming period, the crop can wear out quickly and the growing season will become shorter, which will result in a lower hectare yield. On the other hand, if there is a refreshing shower from now on, a lot will still grow.

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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