Potato update: Wexford earlies should be in shops in June
The first of this year’s Wexford earlies potato crop will be dug at the beginning of June. This is according to Teagasc tillage specialist Shay Phelan.
He explained to Agriland that this is weather dependent and that this year’s early potato crops were planted out in the south-east at the beginning of February.
“The fleeces were lifted off them over recent days and a blight spray has now been applied in many cases," he explained.
“If we get a reasonable lift in temperatures over the coming weeks, this should pave the way for first earlies hitting the shops around the June Bank Holiday weekend."
Meanwhile, the planting of maincrop potatoes continues apace.
“I get the strong impression from growers that 90% of this year’s main crop planting is now in the ground," Phelan continued.
“What’s left to do now is a mix of seed and salad crop planting.”
Where March-planted potato crops are concerned, the Teagasc representative confirmed that the first leaves are now coming through the soil.
“Weed control is now a priority in these instances. This is the last year that metribuzin can be applied to potato crops," he said.
“So, yes, it’s a case of using the product this year. But growers should be give serious consideration now to how they will mange weeds in potato crops from 2026 onwards.”
Blight remains the main disease threat to Irish potato crops. Teagasc scientists remain very concerned at the enhanced rate of mutation being achieved by blight-causing fungi.
It is a trend that is fast challenging the mix of chemical control options that are available to growers when it comes securing effective blight prevention.
“Teagasc will host a number of farm walks, specifically profiling the enhanced threat posed by blight and the steps that potato growers can take to keep on top of the problem," Phelan added.
It is too early to confirm any year-on-year changes to the area of potatoes grown in 2025.
“We will, hopefully, get a sense of what has been happening on the ground over the coming week or so,” Phelan admitted.
But the reality remains that potatoes are now a commodity product, traded on a pan-European basis. Recent years have seen Irish potatoes prices boosted by exports to countries such as Portugal.
Meanwhile, an enhanced commitment on the part of Irish growers to grow bespoke crops of chipping varieties has reduced the levels potatoes coming into Ireland from the UK.
