The Pregerm System

The Pregerm system was developed in the Netherlands and is marketed in Britain by Burdens Horticulture, it is an efficient method of sprouting seed potatoes.

Seed is placed into a wide and flat net bag rather than a tray, each Pregerm bag is divided into 6 long pockets that stop the bag bulging at the bottom and maintain its wide flat shape. This ensures that the layer of potatoes in the bag is relatively thin and that light and air can penetrate to all tubers. Each bag typically holds 125kgs of seed.

Storage and transport

Bags are stored and transported on metal racks that hold up to 10 Pregerm bags (1250kgs seed). The racks can be stacked 2 high (3m) and a pair of racks needs an area of approximately 4.6m2 (1.4m x 3.3m). The racks are designed to be lifted by forklift, and in comparison to trays, the risk of spillage is reduced and no time is wasted trying to secure trays safely to a pallet.

Filling Pregerm bags

Racks are loaded with 10 bags, that are then opened wide at the top so that all bags touch during filling. This provides a large area for filling by elevator, bulk bag or hopper. This usually involves 2 men to ensure that seed is evenly distributed over the sacks without spillage.