The early planting of potatoes has a negative influence on the storage of potatoes: especially firm cooking varieties age quicker. The first early potatoes of the 2012 season have in the meantime been planted. Swisspatat, the trade organisation of the Swiss potato industry, has announced, however, that part of the 2011 harvest could not be sold as yet. In the meantime the quality of firm cooking varieties is no longer the best. The fact that potatoes in storage have to be destroyed more and more often is starting to become an increasing problem. On all fronts big losses are the result, as per Swisspatat.
There are various causes for the problems with the storage quality. Some of them cannot or can only partly be controlled, for instance growing conditions. There are, however, factors which can be controlled directly by the producers. Experience has taught that the time of planting plays an important role. Potatoes planted very early, especially firm cooking varieties such as Charlotte, Ditta and Gourmandine, can only be stored for a shorter period than potatoes, which were planted later.
Because of this Swisspatat advises producers to wait with planting of varieties meant for storage. Under normal weather conditions it should be early enough when the potatoes are planted at the end of April.