Potato planting 2018

[Sonoftheheir]

They say it should be applied on a dry crop and needs a minimum of 8-10 hours drying. Adding a wetter halves the drying time though. The plant needs to remain growing for 2 weeks to get a decent uptake. That is the big problem here. Also daylight temperatures and air humidity need to be right which they weren't at all.

I’ve never heard of using a wetter @Niels ?
Maybe something to consider in the future.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Have you had a look today? What does the yield look like?

Digs are variable.
If every tuber gets to size and quality then yields will be decent enough for the year.
However, I fear I will run out of time for bulking and there is going to be some waste to remove.
If i can get to burn off without any further quality issues then I will be quietly relieved.
At least once the crop is in the shed and I know exactly what I've got I might get back to having a decent night's sleep.[/QUOTE]

I keep having a look, sometimes I find good stuff then in others not so good.

Piper look the worse for size and scab, but same as usual I suppose.

Going through with the irrigation for the last time on all but the piper.

 

[Spudking]

Yields Digs aren’t much use this year , so much variability ,
How long will siggtta store with no fazor, or gas at 8 degrees

 

[Honest john]

I looked at some Agria today.

Strong fen skirt.

One field Fazor went on about same time as Sonotheheir's. 1st days of August. It's done a great job with only a few short chits. Missed a bit by a pole that look like Sonotheheirs photo of the field corner.

Next field later planted had Fazor about 16th August a lot of 2nd growth worst on heavier parts. But not as bad as mine that had Fazor on 19-21 August.

No irrigation on this strong ground.

 

[Honest john]

I’ve never heard of using a wetter @Niels ?
Maybe something to consider in the future.

There's NO recommendation. But you can apply with crop oil. Or with Ranman.
It's said to improve up take.

There's no recommendation in the UK for this mix.

 

[ridger]

Next problem will be a late harvest. Mine are 3 or 4 weeks away from burning.

 

[Jack Tat]

Digs on chipping varieties also very variable here. Ramos and Sagitta decent to reasonable yield especially where irrigated hard.
Agria very poor especially non irrigated. Lots of secondary growth also. Flowering again in areas. Decent Agria will be of a premium.
No sign of Markies with secondary growth for what we can see. Average yield.

Packing gear, more scab than usual. Small sample.

Massive difference between regular irrigated crops and those with a lot less or non.

Very testing and difficult season. Prices remain good. With McCains in the market hopefully these high prices should hold.

What is the seed crop looking like in Holland Neil’s? Seed houses yet to release prices yet. Hopefully prices don’t go up.

It will be a tale of two halves this year. Free buy boys will do well but contract men could take a real kicking especially if fully contracted up. How will it stand if contracts are not met?? Will they expect the grower to buy the short fall?

Must be mad to be a potato grower!!

Digs are variable.
If every tuber gets to size and quality then yields will be decent enough for the year.
However, I fear I will run out of time for bulking and there is going to be some waste to remove.
If i can get to burn off without any further quality issues then I will be quietly relieved.
At least once the crop is in the shed and I know exactly what I've got I might get back to having a decent night's sleep.

I keep having a look, sometimes I find good stuff then in others not so good.

Piper look the worse for size and scab, but same as usual I suppose.

Going through with the irrigation for the last time on all but the piper.[/QUOTE]

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Yields Digs aren’t much use this year , so much variability ,
How long will siggtta store with no fazor, or gas at 8 degrees

Welcome @Spudking!

I’ve found Sagitta sprout easier than most varieties, I’d say gone before Christmas would be best?

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Mr Gove must have put wheels in motion, irrigation restrictions have been lifted here.

 

[Honest john]

Mr Gove must have put wheels in motion, irrigation restrictions have been lifted here.

So you are going again with 13th pass ?

 

[Sonoftheheir]

So you are going again with 13th pass ?

I’ve lost count John!

I think it may be.

Unlucky though, so may have to go for 14.

Seems a crying shame to spray anything off yet, still plenty of green atm.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Some local piper have just come into flower

Like a scene from July, rather than September!

 

[Honest john]

Some local piper have just come into flowerView attachment 711118Like a scene from July, rather than September!

Yes I have some Markie like that with white flowers of course.

When they should have been in flower the flower was so small you could barely tell it was flowering.

Now of course it’s 2nd growth that won’t fry come the time.

 

[Honest john]

I saw some grading yesterday.

Issues 2nd growth & sets as solid as a rock.

Making it harder work.

 

[Fubar]

Even the mother seed is trying to grow again

 

[Sonoftheheir]

I saw some grading yesterday.

Issues 2nd growth & sets as solid as a rock.

Making it harder work.

You mean the ridges have gone hard John?

Clods are going to be a problem here I think, deeper down it has gone solid where the spuds have sucked all the moisture out.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Even the mother seed is trying to grow againView attachment 711126

Sorry to see!

 

[Niels]

I’ve never heard of using a wetter @Niels ?
Maybe something to consider in the future.

Was the advice from our local crop care company . I can ask them about it if you like.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Was the advice from our local crop care company . I can ask them about it if you like.

Thank you for the offer but Don’t worry Niels.

I’ve done all ours now at full rate.

I’ll mention it to my agronomist next time I see him.

 

[AndrewB]

Markies seed going to give it one more week, would like a good few tops this year.