Plantings of Jersey Royals stalled again this week after a spell of sleet and hail hit the island.
The damage caused to uncovered crops by high winds is also under assessment.
Around 84 per cent of the export crop is now in the ground, according to Dan Bennett at Jersey Royals (Potato Marketing) Ltd, and the staggered plantings are likely to result in a drawn-out season.
The bad weather follows a 10-day period of unseasonably warm temperatures and sunshine that allowed growers to catch up on delayed plantings.
The outdoor crop from the early Côtils will be lifted from around April 1, according to Bennett, but bulk liftings will be delayed until May 14.
Total rainfall to March 10 reached 246.75mm this year, up from 19.77mm to the same date in 2006, according to Jersey Royals data.
Average temperatures in the same period this year were higher than 2006, reaching 8.54°C, up from 5.26°C.
Bennett told FPJ: “At this point last year, all the crop was in the ground, but then cold weather struck.
“This year, rain has made us behind on plantings, but the crop that is already in the ground has grown well. Better conditions are forecast for the next few days and it should not take long to plant the remaining seed.”
The glasshouse crop has been available from Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer in limited volumes since March 8.
Bennett added: “In the next few weeks, the other major retailers will stock Jersey Royals in limited volumes as it is important that we have a presence on the shelves by Easter. The bulk of the product will be on the market from mid-May.”
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