PRO-VEG SEEDS TRIAL VARIETIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
This article was written by Joe Johnson and reproduced here with the kind permission of :
Trials are underway at Trials Solutions site in Cambridgeshire to screen over 400 new lines of salad crops, squashes, pumpkins and other vegetables from material collected by Pro-Veg Seeds from across the globe.
The seed, collected by Pro-Veg Seeds Director John Burrows as part of the company's new product development programme, has come from as far afield as China, Korea, New Zealand, Canada and the United States
John started researching new products for the Pro-Veg catalogue in the mid 1990's, and in the last few years has accumulated a vast array of seed samples from his extensive range of contacts.
"We are looking for any unusual vegetables which can be grown here successfully in our cooler climatic zones and which can deliver better tasting vegetables and value for money to UK Growers and consumers."
The trial contains many interesting and unusual leafy vegetables suitable for baby leaf production, such as Pak Choi, Choi Sum (Chinese flowering cabbage), Gai Iaan (Chinese Kale), Tai gu choi (Flat cabbage) alongside more familiar lettuce and wild rocket.
Varieties have been assessed for germination, vigour, appearance, flavour, bolting and resistance to flea beetle. Fifty of the most promising varieties have been re-sown as a demonstration to growers.
Among the lettuce varieties, WS 161 a pale green Batavia with good colour, germination and vigour showed potential, alongside Annapolis - a triple red Romaine. Another Romaine lettuce Gras de Morges, a mid green tinged with red looks to be an interesting variety for the specialty market.
"Pak Choi variety Asia White shows good promise, exhibiting good germination, glossy green leaves and a white petiole. It also showed less damage from flea beetle than a number of the other varieties in trial. Horti-Violet, an unusual dark purple leaved Pak Choi has also generated interest from visitors, although was slower to develop." said Trials Solutions Director Andy Haward.
The Chinese Kales performed well too with excellent vigour. Nagoya Garnish F1, a novel red variety demonstrated a deep red leaf colour and strong flavour, whereas Asia Jeok Gob Seul an attractive serrated leaved variety with a distinctive pink midrib, "had a milder flavour" said Andy Haward .
Also being trialled this year is an extensive range of courgettes, squashes and pumpkins, along with other cucurbits.
Among the squashes, the pale green Patty-Pan Disco looked appealing, with good ease of pick, although the leaves were quite large. HRZ-04-865 F1, a round, yellow summer squash demonstrated a good, open habit and ease of pick, along with good flavour.
Among the later varieties of squash, Sunuzarni Nishiki 2, an attractive green striped 'Kabocha' type with yellow flesh looked interesting, and Amazonka, a delicate pale orange Kabocha type showed a good ratio of flesh to seeds.
Little October, a traditional orange pumpkin that fits in the palm of a hand also looks promising for the speciality market. Samples from the squash trial have been sent to a popular local restaurant in order to explore their potential for the table. With such a wide variety of shapes, sizes and flavours, greater understanding of the culinary uses for each product is an important factor in deciding which varieties will progress through to further, more extensive trials next year.
It has been a busy first season for Trials Solutions Ltd. The company was set up by Andy Haward (formerly of NIAB) in December 2005 to offer tailor made support to companies wishing to conduct evaluative trials on Horticultural crops. The company has trials underway for a broad range of crops, for both growers and a number of seed companies. "It has not been an easy season said Andy Haward. "We have had quite cold night time temperatures early on, which held the squashes back and caused some damage to the more tender varieties. We have since had baking heat, followed by very heavy rain and large hail, which has caused some damage but could have been worse. Our trials have held up incredibly well under such testing conditions."
