Dutch Crop tour Potatoes - week 16
Different strategies for starting potato planting
Potato planting is getting underway, but conditions still vary considerably regionally. While spring fieldwork is only just getting started under acceptable conditions in the north of the country, it is already becoming quite dry again in the southwest.
Brian Salomé from Ijzendijke in Zeeland reports that it is not 'yet again' dry in his area, but actually still is. "For this time of year, it was quite dry this winter. As a result, our onions have already been in the ground for a month. That is just as well, because with the current conditions, they wouldn't have come up on their own if we had sown later."
Unlike Brian, Alex van Erp from Midwolda in Groningen started planting his Innovators today (April 17). Creating a good seedbed isn't really the problem yet, but the soil does get compacted a bit after the potatoes have actually been planted. Alex is referring to the fact that the bottom of the soil isn't looking good everywhere yet. "Actually, the soil needs to dry out properly from now on so that some cracks start to form again. If you get too much water now, it has nowhere to go. But with a week of nice weather on top of that, the soil will settle nicely again, so that it can absorb precipitation as well," he says.
Alex van Erp from Midwolda in Groningen founded his Innovators.
The planted Innovators by Alex van Erp from Midwolda, Groningen.
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Search for the effect of molasses and cheese whey water on the incorporation of green manure
Brian Salomé is experimenting this year with adding whey water and molasses to incorporate his cover crop. This involves locally sourced residual streams that, according to him, can be utilized simply and relatively inexpensively. The idea is that the decomposition of the cover crop improves and nutrients become more readily available for uptake by the subsequent crop.
Brian himself calls it 'a piece of regenerative agriculture'. Through contacts with other growers and initiatives such as the Farm of the Future in the Southwest Netherlands, he comes into contact with these types of applications. "You speak to several people who are working with it. Some are a bit further along than others, but that way you also try things out yourself and set up trials to see if it works," Brian explains. According to him, there are several growers who have already been experimenting with this for a few years, with predominantly positive experiences. That is the reason for him to apply it himself this season. After the green manure has been incorporated, Brian expects to start planting his Innovators next week.
Utilize the maximum number of growth days
The Innovators are already in the ground at Philip Kroes and Adriaan Wortman's farm in Dronten (Flevoland). In Dronten, the potatoes were planted last week (week 15). Generally, that is still considered early enough, although Adriaan indicates that he himself would have preferred to have started a little earlier. "We want to aim for the maximum achievable number of growing days, so if the soil allows it, we prefer to start right away."
Things are still a bit quieter regarding planting at Gybert Doggen's farm in Wouw, Brabant. He recently planted his early potatoes, but he is waiting another week with the Innovators. In the coming days, Gybert will first be busy cutting his seed potatoes. According to Gybert, this way you get rid of the thick tubers, and it is also simply a lot cheaper. However, there is a risk involved, he emphasizes. Timing can be crucial, especially in a wet spring. If the cut seed potatoes remain in the shed for too long, it can cause problems with the sprouting of the potatoes after they have been planted. In general, the method works well for him. "In most years, it goes fine, provided the seed potatoes can dry briefly after cutting and then go into the ground quickly," states Gybert.
Jan Willem Veldman
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