This year's potato crop promising, but more rain still needed
The P.E.I. Potato board says with a bit more rain, the Island's potato crop should be on track.
"Overall, I think we're in really good shape," said board chair Alex Docherty.
He said this is a critical time in the season, and what's needed now is 25 to 35 millimetres of rain per week. Some crops need even more.
"Especially for the Burbank crop, they definitely require at least an inch [25 mm] of rain per week for at least the next four to five weeks to get a crop," said Docherty.
Levelling out
Most Island potato crops are in good shape right now, he said, they just need a bit of help for a good harvest.
"The tubers are bulking and the later varieties are starting to size and the numbers are there, they just need Mother Nature to co-operate with warm days, cool nights and lots of moisture."
Docherty said rain over the past few weeks has helped, but more is needed.
"We've kind of got evened out now," he said. "There's probably still some areas getting some sporadic, heavier showers than others."
A bit of dry weather isn't always a bad thing, he said, because it often leads to a high-quality crop and there's less chance of rotting.
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