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ONION
SET DEVELOPMENTS |
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EARLY RED VARIETY DEVELOPMENT FOR 2009
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10 July |
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Red Emperor
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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. |
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→ 4 weeks earlier than Red Baron
→ good shape
and colour (slightly paler than Red Baron)
→ maturity
similar to Electric
→ much
increased availability for 2009
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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.
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EARLY BROWN VARIETY DEVELOPMENT FOR 2009
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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 |
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15 June
→ 14 days earlier than JAGRO
→ very good
shape
→ good
storeability
→ much
increased availability for 2009
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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
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OTHER RED / BROWN VARIETY
DEVELOPMENTS FOR 2009
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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. |
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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 |
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SPRING 2009 Variety Summary
(brown varieties)
Varieties in blue are ABS Developments
/ New Varieties
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Variety |
Type |
UK Harvest Date |
Comments |
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ABS 106 |
First Early |
End June |
Very early hybrid, harvest before
ABS 101. Small trials only for 2009. Heat treated |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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DOC 2 |
Maincrop |
End July/ Early August |
Improved Rumba for commercial
comparisons in 2008. Limited availability for 2009.
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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. |
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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. |
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SPRING 2009 Variety Summary (red
varieties) |
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ABS 206 |
First Early |
Early July |
Very early red with better bolting resistance
than Red Emperor. Small trial lots only for 2009. |
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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ABS 905 |
Maincrop Rijnsburger Hybrid |
Mid August |
Entirely new hybrid produced by ABS, sets 2009. Good
seed availability. |
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