Allium & Brassica Centre Ltd.

Wash Road, Kirton, Boston, Lincs. PE20 1QQ
Telephone: 01205 723414  Fax: 01205 722995
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ONION SET UPDATE


 

 

 

ONION SET DEVELOPMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARLY RED VARIETY DEVELOPMENT FOR 2009

 

  

10 July

 

Red Emperor

 

Red Emperor (F.1.) is becoming established as the best and earliest red for harvest in mid July, nearly one month earlier than Red Baron. Has performed well in Spain also. Unfortunately higher set price due to high seed cost.

 

→ 4 weeks earlier than Red Baron

→ good shape and colour (slightly paler than Red Baron)

→ maturity similar to Electric

→ much increased availability for 2009

 

ABS 201 (F.1.) will also be available for trial which is at least 1 week earlier than Red Emperor. This seems to have better bolting resistance and has the prospect of being planted January for harvest similar to ABS 101.

 

 

 

 

 

EARLY BROWN VARIETY DEVELOPMENT FOR 2009

 

 

Main effort has been to improve earliness without compromising yield, so far as possible.

 

ABS 101 (F.1.) is the earliest spring planted set available, ready to harvest on 30 June.

ABS 101

                                  15 June

→ 14 days earlier than JAGRO

→ very good shape

→ good storeability

→ much increased availability for 2009

 

ABS 106 (F.1.) will be available for trial which is up to 1 week earlier, i.e. the same maturity as existing overwinter Radar etc. This has performed well in Spain also.

 

Alpha continues as the second early brown followed by Jagro.

Note there is a seed shortage for Jagro which will limit availability. Seed price (x Bejo) has also increased

 

 

 

OTHER RED / BROWN VARIETY

DEVELOPMENTS FOR 2009

 

ABS 905

A new hybrid bred in house.  Red Baron maturity but with improved shape and storeability.  Will be extensively trialled commercially as direct drilled in 2008 and available as sets in 2009.  Good seed availability.

Garnet / DRO

Now replacing Red Baron as a more cost effective option for sets.  More single centred and less variable than Red Baron.  Good seed availability

 
 

SPRING 2009 Variety Summary

(brown varieties)

Varieties in blue are ABS Developments / New Varieties

Variety

Type

UK Harvest Date

Comments

ABS 106

First Early

End June

Very early hybrid, harvest before ABS 101. Small trials only for 2009. Heat treated

ABS 101

First Early

End June/Early July

Earliest hybrid for the first early slot, harvest as early as 30 June. Good yield and good round bulbs.  Increased quantities available. Better storeability than alternatives.

Alpha

First Early

Early/Mid July

Next earliest spring variety, 14+ days earlier than Sturon. Interest in Europe is maintained due to earliness and quality. Round to elongate. Needs good soil. Thinner neck and cures well. Performs well in Spain.

Jagro

Second Early

Mid July

7+ days later than Alpha, slightly flattened globe and high yielding. Derived from overwinter cross. Seed availability likely to be limiting.

Centurion

Maincrop

End July/Early August

Earlier in Holland but only marginally earlier than Sturon in UK. Bulb shape uniform but flattish. U.K. usage now minimal.

Rumba

Maincrop

End July/Early August

U.K. development over many generations. Target in breeding has been better shape and storability than Sturon. Results very satisfactory, also more vigorous and less doubles than Sturon. Still most widely grown set variety in U.K.

DOC 2

Maincrop

End July/ Early August

Improved Rumba for commercial comparisons in 2008. Limited availability for 2009.

Sturon

Maincrop

End July/Early August

Standard variety. Various seed sources, not all reliable. Selected seed sources used where equivalent to Syngenta stock. ABS stock now available also.

Setton

Maincrop

End July/Early August

Syngenta ‘replacement’ for Sturon. Improved shape otherwise similar to Sturon with finer more upright foliage. Established as one of the main varieties and a regular inclusion with some growers, although decreasing overall. Only available as Elite.

 

SPRING 2009 Variety Summary (red varieties)

 

 

ABS 206

First Early

Early July

Very early red with better bolting resistance than Red Emperor. Small trial lots only for 2009.

Red Emperor

Second Early

Mid July

A.B. Supplies previous involvement with Sakata Seeds as New Early Red. Bought out by Enza. Replacement for Electric but expensive. Good red, slightly flattened globe. Increased availability for 2009.

Garnet/DRO

Maincrop

Rijnsburger

Early/Mid August

More single centred Red Baron type, now on EU list, exclusive to ABS and own seed production. Sets therefore less expensive than Red Baron. A sister line is also available (DRO. Red Baron storage applies.

Red Baron

Rijnsburger

Mid August

Standard variety. Stores less well than when grown from seed, cure @ 24°C but storage to October only. Seed now getting expensive for set production.

ABS 905

Maincrop

Rijnsburger Hybrid

Mid August

Entirely new hybrid produced by ABS, sets 2009. Good seed availability.