SUMMER SPUD REPORT 2021–22 Gemma Carroll : Potatoes NZ Inc. communications and extension officer
Summer 2022 potato crop
It has been a mixed bag of weather this spring and summer, with a couple of rain events challenging growers in Horowhenua and Canterbury.
Canterbury is lucky to have irrigation schemes which mean that the otherwise dry weather has been managed with irrigation. Rhizoctonia, which can be both seed and soil-borne, is present, probably due to cooler conditions so far.
New Zealand agronomists and growers in our main growing regions had the following to say about the 2021–2022 potato season.
Psyllid nymphs are visible, but psyllid trap numbers are not off the scale. Psyllid pressure is building, however.
Canterbury
“The Agria crops look exceptional. Innovator still has another month to go and Burbank crops need heat and light, being a North American variety, so it will be interesting to see their progress towards mid to late March,” says Roger.
Roger Blyth, Seed and Field agronomist Plants were ‘soft‘ in the run-up to December, with big canopies establishing due to low winds. It was a dull spring with low ultraviolet levels, says Roger. A huge deluge before Christmas meant some disruption for late plantings and some crop loss. The big rain affected the normal petiole range and this has meant unrestricted canopy growth. Tuber setting is not too bad but there is variability in size. There has been no stress during tuber setting.
Powdery scab is not much of a problem at this point.
Pukekohe Daniel Sutton, Fruitfed agronomist Early crops were hit by wind, but pre-spring moisture was good. Then in late November and December the big dry has hit. NZGROWER : FEBRUARY 2022 51
