3 Octavo

Octavo carrots

It would appear ‘abnormal’ is the new normal as far as UK weather is concerned. Met Office figures show summer 2018 to be the joint hottest on record, with temperatures reaching 36°C, coupled with two or more months with little or no rainfall.

“In many cases, insufficient irrigation caused variable vegetable crop losses – up to 100 per cent in some areas with yields generally down 30-40 per cent and size also affected,” says John De Soyza of Hazera Seeds UK. “Carrots are one crop that has showed signs of recovery through the autumn, due to improved growing conditions – more moderated temperature and rainfall.”

Growers have faced a challenging year, with the recent loss of Cruiser (Thiamethoxam) impacting on their ability to control aphid-transmitted virus, especially in carrot crops. “So far it’s been held at bay with a ‘belt and braces’ approach of seed treatments and chemical sprays,” De Soyza says. “Given the loss of neonicotinoids, it is questionable whether aphid-transmitted viruses can be effectively controlled. In addition, some early cavity spot has been detected – a disease that can cause relatively frequent significant crop losses.”

But, according to De Soyza, among all the doom and gloom there is hope. “A recent independent study by Vegetable Consultancy Services (VCS) tested a number of commercial carrot varieties for susceptibility/resistance to virus and cavity spot. Two years of results showed several offered a strong level of observed resistance to cavity spot – varieties such as CLX-EXP from HM Clause and Volcano, Octavo and Eskimo from Hazera.

“Interestingly, the one year of results for virus symptoms showed the same varieties stood out – with high observed resistance identified in CLX-EXP and Octavo, but also the level of infection seen in the other varieties such as Eskimo and Volcano were much lower than the industry reference variety.

“While the trial has one more year to go, the results so far suggest growers have good options to use strong genetics against these diseases as part of their overall control strategy.”

The 2018 UK onion crop got off to a slow start with late drilling due to the cold, wet conditions resulting in more sets being planted. “Crops grown from sets offer reduced storability, which is likely to lead to UK production gaps this coming winter, or early next year,” warns De Soyza. “Further compounded by the hot dry summer, crops finished early and some are underdeveloped, culminating in 30 per cent yield reductions and a shortage of larger sizes.”

On top of this he says thrip and bean seed fly damage, as well as high levels of fusarium, are likely to impact on bulb quality and storability.

However, De Soyza says there is light at the end of the tunnel to help growers combat unpredictable weather patterns in the future. “New early-maturing variety Fasto has performed well. Coupled with long-term storage credentials, it offers maximum production flexibility, which is what UK growers need.”

According to Hazera’s brassica specialist Nick Bolton, labour availability, pesticide losses and import delays due to Brexit are all uppermost in brassica growers’ minds. “These could signal an increase in home-grown winter brassicas with high levels of pest, disease and frost resistance,” he says. “Our winter green cabbage Tundra is known for its frost resistance. These genetics are being carried forward into two promising new compact Savoy cabbage varieties. Both offer good disease and frost resistance; 14-684 matures from December to February and 14-634 provides continuity through March to early April while maintaining attractive dark green leaves and deep blistering into the early spring.”