The first new potatoes planted in Lower Saxony

The early potato growers from Greater Burgdorf have been waiting for the frosty season to come to an end. They were already in the starting blocks to put the seed potatoes into the ground. Because in order to be first on the market with new potatoes, the tubers of course have to start growing as early as possible.

"There was no reason for the growers to wait," explains Joachim Hasberg to the Landvolk press service. The managing director of the Niedersächsische Frühkartoffelerzeugergermeinschaft in Burgdorf near Hanover knows that the potato is so robust that it can tolerate even late frost if it only gets warm enough during the day. "If the sun is shining during the day and the soil is thawing under the foil, then the potatoes will grow anyway," says Hasberg. However, it also depends on how deep the tubers were deposited when sowing, whether it is windy and how many layers of film were spread over them. The sunshine and heat development will decide the harvest date, especially from late April onward. Hasberg is convinced, however, that at Whitsun the first potatoes from Lower Saxony can be harvested and marketed from the farm.

Potato growers are currently not satisfied with the prices. They hope that their lead in the market will have a positive effect. In recent years, many German farmers have entered potato production. Because of the generally poor prices of agricultural products, they have sought alternatives to rye, sugar beet or other crops. As a result, the Lower Saxony lost some of its market share. "As the prices of other crops are falling, more farmers are pushing for the potato market," explains Hasberg.

"Potato cultivation is labor-intensive and requires expensive technology. Whoever decides to get in there does not start with two, but rather with twenty hectares," says Hasberg, explaining the situation on the potato market. In addition, the fresh consumption of potatoes continues to decline, putting more pressure on the market. In the early potato producer community, 150 farmers between Hanover and Peine are growing up to around 2,700 hectares of new potatoes. In total, 108,000 hectares of potatoes are grown in Lower Saxony, one third for consumption and two thirds as starch potatoes for the industry.

Source: Landvolk Niedersachsen