EARLY POTATOES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22439, 20 September 1947, Page 8

EARLY POTATOES

CROPS IN_DISTRICT DIGGING NEXT MONTH PLANTINGS CONTINUE Planting of potatoes in Gisborne to catch the early market rates were generally about a month later this season than last. Wet weather j delayed planting in most cases and later made it almost impossible to j work the ground after planting. I Most growers throughout the district ! had some misses in their rows due to [ the wet weather and the consequent retting of the seed, in isolated cases the growers replanted misses to ensure the maximum yield from the block. Plantings in the district are continuingWainui Crops Maturing Despite their troubles in the initial stages, the president of the Gisborne Potato-Growers' Association, Mr. E. J. Stewart, expects that quite a few potatoes will be dug next month. A few already have been dug at Wainui Beach and at Waihirere. but the ground has been cold and the crops required flic warmth of the last few days to bring them to maturity . The earliest crops should be digging out, well by 'he turn of the month

Growers expect to be able to have the bulk of their crops on the market by November and December, bearing in mind that thev have only a limited time, about 10 days, in December to catch the markets before the close down for the Christmas vacation.