Dutch potato growing technology

The climate of the Atlantic Netherlands is not particularly favorable for successful vegetable gardening, and the cultivated area is small. Despite these difficulties, Dutch potato growing technology has gained recognition among farmers across Europe.

It would be wrong to assume that these methods are only suitable for mechanized cultivation of large areas. Many progressive farmers use Dutch potato cultivation techniques in small garden plots.

Description of potato cultivation using Dutch technology

Principles of technology:

1. The potato varieties grown in the Netherlands are high-yielding and productive, and their seeds are currently exported worldwide. Potato yields in this country, even in lean years, reach up to 40 tons per hectare.
2. Planting stock is selected exclusively from healthy plants, free from damage and disease. Seed stock is replaced at least every five years. Dutch seed potatoes are healthy, uniformly sized potatoes, 3-5 cm in diameter.
3. Important principles of the technology are the planting pattern and timing, hilling height, and fertilizing depending on the variety.
4. Different harvest times for seed stock and for consumer purposes.
5. Much attention is paid to soil cultivation and crop rotation.
6. Timely destruction of pests and weeds.

Planting dates using Dutch technology

Growing potatoes using the Dutch method requires planting as soon as the soil warms up but is still warm. The soil is considered ready when it forms a ball and crumbles into small crumbs when thrown from waist height. Planting time begins immediately after tilling the area, without giving the plowed soil a chance to dry out.

Rules for growing using Dutch technology

How to prepare the soil

The Dutch potato growing technique involves preparing the soil for planting in the fall. During this period, the soil is tilled with reversible plows or shoveled in small areas. In the spring, the soil is loosened with a rotary tiller; in smaller areas, harrowing or fine-toothed pitchfork loosening is used. This shallow loosening preserves the soil pores, which retain moisture, and the plants will be less susceptible to drought. Rotary tilling accelerates the ripening of the crop by about a week.

How to plant potatoes

The Dutch method of planting potatoes avoids crowding the plants. The optimal distance between rows and between plants within rows is 60-80 cm, with rows running north to south. Potatoes are laid in a shallow trench 4 cm deep and then topped with a mound 8-10 cm high and 30 cm wide. Immediately after the first shoots emerge, topsoil is added, increasing the mound's height to 25 cm. The distance between rows initially seems too wide, but this is precisely what is needed for hilling and the development of a strong root system.

Care instructions

1. Weeding. The first treatment of potato beds is carried out two weeks after planting. Its purpose is to remove all weeds that will interfere with adequate nutrition for the potato roots. For large areas, a ridge cultivator is used for this. Smaller beds are cultivated by creating ridges and removing small weeds.
2. Treatment with herbicides, late blight and pest control agents.

Watering mode

Watering is based on the amount of natural precipitation. If rainfall is insufficient, three mandatory waterings are required: before flowering, 10 days after the flowers fade, and again 20 days later.

Varieties of Dutch potatoes

Asterix

A late-ripening variety with a growing season of 100-120 days. Oval-shaped tubers with thick, light-purple skin. The inner layer is light yellow. Starch content reaches 14-17%. There are 10-12 potatoes per plant. The bushes are tall and upright, with small, dark-green, wavy leaves. The flowers are purple.

Ukama

This is a super-early variety. It ripens 60 days after planting. The tubers are elongated and large, averaging 170 grams per tuber. They have excellent flavor. The skin and flesh are yellow. This variety is highly resistant to canker and nematodes, but it is not well-suited to droughts and hot temperatures, requiring regular watering during these periods.

Red Scarlett

An early, fast-maturing variety with a 75-day growing season. Tubers have firm pink skin and yellow flesh. They cook well and have excellent flavor. The firm skin allows them to withstand transportation without mechanical damage. A distinctive feature of this variety is its high tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. It requires little special agricultural management and is resistant to viral diseases.

Monalisa

A mid-early variety with a growing season of 65-80 days. Tubers are elongated and oval. They are light yellow both inside and out. The firm skin provides resistance to mechanical damage. The variety is resistant to tuber cancer and late blight, but is susceptible to late blight and nematodes. Consumer recommendations: This variety is excellent for making crispy potatoes and chips. Recommended for small farms.

Latona

A mid-season potato with a growing season of 70-80 days. It tolerates drought, excessive rainfall, and temperature fluctuations well. It is resistant to nematodes, scab, and dry rot, and may be susceptible to late blight. The tubers of this variety are smooth, oval, and yellow in color, matching the flesh.

Sante

This variety has a mid-season maturity of 80-90 days. Large, oval-shaped tubers have a light yellow hue. The flesh is white. High yields require wide planting distances.

Variety characteristics: resistance to all types of potato diseases. Low starch content makes this potato ideal for chips and crispy French fries.

Romano

Ripening time: medium. The tubers are large and round. The skin is pale pink, the flesh is white.

Features: resistance to major potato diseases, ability to produce good yields under unfavourable conditions, well preserved throughout the winter, even at elevated temperatures.

Harvesting

This process in the Dutch growing method also has some distinctive features. It's important to distinguish the intended use of the crop. Potatoes for seed are dug approximately 3-4 weeks earlier than those intended for consumption.

Another difference is the preliminary removal of the tops about 10 days before harvesting the tubers. This process hardens the skin, ensuring good storage.

Reviews of the method

The Dutch method of growing potatoes has attracted the interest of many farmers and smallholding owners. On larger plots where mechanized cultivation is used, this method is gaining increasing popularity, especially since seeds of high-yielding varieties of Dutch and local selections have become more readily available.

Gardeners also successfully use this technology on small personal plots, using hand tools for cultivation. Reviews share one common conclusion: seed varieties and the degree of seed aging are crucial. The fifth or sixth generation already leads to a decrease in yield.

It has been noted that planting in ridges helps retain moisture near the roots, which is important for arid regions, and that mounds of soil over shallow furrows do not impede free access of air.