WITH POTATO planting now well underway, agronomy firm, Hutchinsons, has reported stark variations in field conditions across the UK, which may cause some establishment issues.

Unusually dry weather in the South-east of England is already making early irrigation worthwhile on some crops, whereas further west planting progress on wet soils is behind schedule.

In East Anglia and the South-east below-average rainfall during March and over the winter might have allowed planting to progress but is in danger of hindering early development, pointed out Hutchinsons' root crop technical manager, Darryl Shailes.

“Once potato crops are in the ground it is essential to get them up and meeting in the rows as quickly as possible. Irrigation is often used for scab management early in the season, but it can be easy to underestimate the need for water early-on purely for canopy development," he said.

"In dry years it can be a game-changer for crop establishment and maximising yield potential. So even where scab management is not so crucial early water can be.

Further west, Herefordshire agronomist, Andrew Goodinson, said wet weather had hampered progress, which he estimated to be around 20% behind normal. Some chitted crisping varieties, such as Lady Rosetta, had been planted on light land by the start of April, and some early chipping Amora, but progress has been frustratingly slow for many.

He is urging growers to be patient and wait for soils to dry-out properly, rather than forcing seedbeds in sub-optimal conditions and causing compaction that will seriously affect crop growth and yield potential.

“Potatoes have a great ability to catch up and compensate for a few days delay, so it’s really not worth the risk of going too early. It’s such a big investment you can’t afford to get it wrong.”

For Scotland, as planting gears up, the same rule of thumb applies and growers should wait for optimal conditions, said the experts. As well as damaging soil structure, planting too early on wet soils risks increasing the incidence of black leg, rots and rhizoctonia, Mr Goodinson warned.

* The use of starter fertilisers, either with the seed or worked in before planting, can help early crop establishment, noted Mr Shailes. Trials show the benefit to canopy growth is most pronounced in dry, cool years, whereas in 'normal' springs there may be less benefit, he added.

Given the vagaries of the weather, this might be a good insurance bet, but, he said, the jury is still out on the advantage from applying split doses of nitrogen fertiliser and applications are best timed so that N is available for the period of peak crop demand which occurs during the rapid canopy establishment phase.