Up to last weekend as little as 5% of this year’s field vegetable crops had been planted because of the late spring. This compares with the average of 40% for this time of year.

Early plantings are three weeks behind schedule. Growers are under pressure to get crops planted in time for Irish markets and are moving to the stage where yield and quality is likely to be an issue, explained IFA horticulture executive Pat Farrell.

Cold and wet ground has permitted only a small area of early carrots and iceberg lettuce to be planted. Few have managed to plant crops such as broccoli, swedes, cabbage and parsnips, Farrell said.

“We are asking for supermarkets to understand the difficult spring experienced by growers, who will need price increases and may require greater leniency on specifications.”

In 2017, 4,196ha of field vegetables (excluding potatoes) were grown in Ireland, 3,833ha of which were spring-planted. The challenging spring planting season comes as the remainder of 2017’s vegetable crops were harvested in difficult conditions. While the carrot harvest is largely complete, there are parsnips and swedes yet to be harvested.

Potato producers are also under pressure as the planting window for early potatoes has passed.