Potato planting begins three weeks early in North Iceland
In Húsavík, potato fields have been plowed by the municipality. Morgunblaðið/Hafþór Hreiðarsson
Favorable spring weather has led to potato gardens being plowed up to three weeks earlier than usual in parts of North Iceland. In areas like Skagafjörður and Húsavík, planting has already begun, marking a significant shift from the typical agricultural calendar.
Kári Gunnarsson, an agricultural service representative in Skagafjörður, tells Morgunblaðið that local gardens were plowed last week—three weeks earlier than last year, when plowing didn’t begin until early June. “The soil is ready, and the weather has been good,” Gunnarsson says. “People have already started planting.”
In Húsavík, municipal gardens have also been plowed and prepared. Trausti Aðalsteinsson, foreman at a local service center, says there’s been growing demand for potato planting in the town. He had initially delayed plowing due to concerns about a late spring harvest, which ultimately didn’t materialize. “The conditions were too good to wait,” he says, noting that many residents planted potatoes over the weekend.
Despite a disappointing crop last year, both Gunnarsson and Aðalsteinsson are optimistic about this season’s harvest, citing the early start and excellent weather conditions. “When spring is this good, there’s no reason to hesitate,” Aðalsteinsson says.
