Varieties from sets

SPRING PLANTED BROWN VARIETIES EARLY

Earliness is a major focus with development work at Allium Seeds and new F1 hybrids well on the way to production.
Meanwhile, especially for earlies, the situation continues to be difficult for 2012 with promising varieties not available due to seed failures and cost of seed becoming prohibitive. Increased seed production and new varieties will improve the situation for 2013 and beyond.

Variety details as follows:- (generally planted from January through to mid February for harvest in early to mid July.)

• Alpha is the tried and tested variety, which even after nearly 20 years continues to improve with ongoing selection, and is again increasing in popularity. Needs some heat treatment but can be planted January onwards. Performs well in Spain also. Harvest mid July. Availability limited
• ABS 107 This is one of a series of new introductions (including ABS 106) to the early market, slightly later than Alpha. Other varieties are in trial and available in small quantities. These need to be planted early (ideally in January/ February) to get the best results.
• ABS 101 and ABS 106 not available due to seed failure. ABS 122 is a new variety of similar parentage available for evaluation. Same maturity as Alpha.
• Helenas (ABS 125) is later than ABS 122, and will be available. Present experience indicates this will be a replacement for Jagro with better globe shaped bulbs and thinner necks.
• Jagro A second early variety with continuing popularity, always beset with seed limitation and high cost of seed. Reasonable availability anticipated.

SPRING PLANTED BROWN VARIETIES MAINCROP

MAINCROP generally planted in February/March for harvest end July/early August.

Variety details as follows:-

• Rumba is the main “Sturon type” brown set variety grown, also reselected over many years. Good availability after a very difficult season for 2011 delivery.
• Setton is a Sturon variant produced by Syngenta and can be slightly earlier. Finer, more upright foliage and good globe shaped bulbs. Plant and harvest as Rumba. Increasing in popularity.
• Sturon The standard variety for maincrop sets despite being produced for 30+ years, possibly a record! Bulbs a bit variable and tend to be flattish but nevertheless still popular. Various selections are available but Allium Seeds selection is used where possible.
• Centurion A Sturon hybrid which tends to be a day or two earlier but bulbs flattish. Popular with one or two growers but not generally

SPRING PLANTED RED VARIETIES

Red Emperor is the only early variety possible since ABS 206 is a seed failure but will be available as “Red Spur” in 2013. Main crop relies on Garnet since unfortunately Red Queen is available as seed for drilling only.

Variety Details as follows:-

• Red Emperor An early intermediate type from Southern Hemisphere origins. Plant late February / early March since sets have to be heat treated due to inherent bolting risk. Need to be dried @ 27 - 28ºC and well cured @ 25ºC to develop skins. Short curing times inevitably result in poor skins. This is not a Rijnsburger type and much less susceptible to bacterial issues. Harvest mid July.
• Garnet Maincrop Rijnsburger type closest to Red Baron. Plant mid March for harvest early – mid August. These types need to be dried and cured 23ºC maximum to minimise bacterial issues which according to growing season, can cause problems with internal breakdown. Garnet continues to be available for direct drilling. Can be supplied film coated/pelleted and also primed.
• Red Baron still retains some demand. Maincrop Rijnsburger type with the same harvest and drying / curing recommendations as per Garnet. More expensive than Garnet due to high seed cost.
• Other varieties such as Kamal, Romy available on request.

OVERWINTER VARIETIES

SenshyuR Earliest overwinter variety and exclusively from Allium Seeds selection for better shape and skins but still for short storage only. Plant October and harvest end June.

Shakespeare Bred by Horticulture Research International originally and improved since by the breeder who now works for us. 7 days later than SenshyuR but better quality and good storage. Now widely used for packing to start the season. A companion variety Vulcan will be available for commercial trial in 2012 also from the same breeder and exclusive to Allium Seeds.

HEALTH AND TRACEABILITY

All sets are fully traceable to the production field, whether in Holland, France or Belgium from the NAKT number at the top of each big bag or 25kg net.

When seed is produced by Allium Seeds UK, there is full traceability back to the basic seed supplied for muliplication. This seed and the seed crop produced from it is all treated with Thiram and Topsin-M to ensure for freedom from Neck Rot through to set production.

The major part of production is in total isolation on land never used for onion production. Set crops are nevertheless sprayed regularly, especially in relation to Downy Mildew. This has never been seen yet in the Elite production area. All sets, whether grown in Holland and Belgium or France are covered by the NAKT (equivalent to NIAB in UK) inspection as follows:

• All set crops must be registered with NAKT inspection scheme.
• All seeds tested are free from nematodes (stem and bulb eelworm).
• All fields tested for freedom from white rot and eelworm. If found the production is rejected.
• Where potatoes have been grown, a valid potato root eelworm / disease statement (for freedom form) requested.
• Each lot is provided (by NAKT) with numbered field label.
• All fields are inspected by NAKT for trueness to variety, virus infection, stem eelworm, white rot, downy mildew, fusarium or other diseases if seen.
• Written approval of fields by NAKT is valid as a plant passport under directive 2000/29/E.C.