This week, contracting company Vaessen was already active with planting potatoes. “We have never planted this early,” says contractor Ton Vaessen from Landgraaf. The planting work took place right across the Dutch-German border.
Monday and Tuesday, Bjorn Manders, employee of Vaessen contractor from Landgraaf, was already planting potatoes. Both days literally a stone’s throw from the Dutch-German border. Monday in the border village of Scherpenzeel, near Waubach and Tuesday in Minder-Gangelt, near Schinveld.
February legs
“I have never planted potatoes so early. This is unique for our company. But the ground conditions were good, ”says contractor Ton Vaessen when asked. According to him, planting went well on both days.
May grub
At arable farmer Norbert Schmitz from Scherpenzeel, Jeffrey Grooten planted the varieties Anaïs and Annabelle on more than half a hectare. Planting potatoes in February is not unique for Norbert Schmitz. “In the past I did the planting myself and regularly planted this early in the year. My aim is to always be able to sell the first new potatoes at home by mid-May, ”explains Schmitz. To achieve this, he covers the plot with a foil. Before planting, he has provided the plot with the necessary nitrogen application with stabilized fertilizer.
