Agriculture in Poland: Potato harvests and seasonal crop management

Agricultural activities in Poland are currently focused on managing late-season crop challenges and the start of the starch potato campaign. The starch potato harvest has begun under difficult weather conditions, including spring droughts and summer heatwaves. Ryszard Szaroleta, president of the Association of Potato Growers and Producers in Luboń, noted that yields vary by region due to precipitation levels. In well-managed areas, yields are approximately 35-40 t/ha with a starch content of about 17.5%. Meanwhile, the Potato Industry Enterprise in Trzemeszno has launched its 144th campaign, having doubled its processing capacity to over 3,000 tons of potatoes per day.

Gardeners are also managing seasonal risks for other crops. Late blight poses a significant threat to tomatoes, especially in temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius with high humidity; prevention includes ensuring airflow and removing lower leaves to prevent soil-borne spores from splashing onto plants. Additionally, high temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius can hinder tomato ripening by limiting lycopene production. For raspberry growers, pruning strategies must differ between summer varieties, which require cutting old stems after harvest, and autumn varieties, which should not be cut while still fruiting.