2007 Seed Trials

Abbott & Cobb | D. Palmer Seed Co. | Johnny's Selected Seeds
Sakata | Siegers Seed Co. | Syngenta Seeds, Inc./ Rogers Brand

Abbott & Cobb

This variety is called XLT3200, and is from a line called XLTS3. Just as in their larger cousins, the "XLT" is for extended life and taste. But the added "S3" in these handy, personal-sized melons, is for "slice, scoop and serve."		This variety, XLS351, also has extended life and taste, but has an "S" in its name because it is sutured, or striped. Distinguished from the western shipper, these traditionally eastern melons are gaining in popularity. This particular variety will be available in 2008.
Abbott and Cobb not only showed off varieties in the field, but in large tents where visitors could not only compare varieties side by side, but grab a cold drink and some welcome shade. Abbott & Cobb's vice president of research and development, Hasib S. Humaydan, was on hand to answer any questions growers had.

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D. Palmer Seed Co.

Duane Palmer shows off his hybrid heirloom tomatoes that are part of a program called "From Grandma’s Garden." There are five tomato varieties in the program, including Grandma’s Treat, Grandma’s Little Girl, etc. They have the flavor of heirlooms, says Palmer, but the higher yields, disease protection and uniformity of hybrids.		This hybrid zucchini squash is called Obsidian, and has good mildew resistance and grows well in a variety of regions.
This hybrid Jalapeno pepper, as yet unnamed (HP-06-51), will be available in 2008. Tests show disease tolerance in all growing areas, says Duane Palmer.

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Johnny's Selected Seeds

Mike Gold, who works in commercial sales for Johnny’s Selected Seeds, shows off a favored cantaloupe variety, Sarah’s Choice, a personal-sized muskmelon.		Sun Gold is an indeterminate cherry tomato variety that’s super-sweet. But a tendency to split precludes shipping, so it’s strictly a farm market treat.
This vividly colored bell pepper is called Islander. The small amount of foliage means the fruit gets a lot of sun. "The yields are awesome," says Gold.

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Sakata

This new pumpkin, Earlipack, has dark green handles that are strongly attached, making it great for the bin market. The size, about 19 pounds, makes it a perfect fit.		This indeterminate grape tomato is called Sweet Heart, and it is proving to be a huge hit, says Atlee Burpee, the company’s eastern sales manager.
Here are the various shades of Red Bull, a bell pepper variety that goes from green to red.

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Siegers Seed Co.

Grandma’s Garden, an heirloom variety from D. Palmer Seed, recently received its name. It is larger fruited than the company’s Mr. Ugly and boasts a great flavor.		This photo shows Pagent from Syngenta Seeds, Rogers Brand (left) and Sopron, a new variety. Both are resistant to bacterial leaf spot races 1, 2, and 3.
Regalo peppers are for fresh market. These dark colored fruit are of uniform size and yield and can cross over into the processing market.

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Syngenta Seeds, Inc./ Rogers Brand

Amarillo is a bright yellow seedless watermelon with a distinctive globe shape. In trials, this watermelon has shown less tendency to hollow heart than other yellow-fleshed varieties, resulting in more harvestable fruit.		This straightneck squash, RSQ 5121 is an experimental variety that features glossy and deep-yellow fruit. It has intermediate resistance to zucchini yellow mosaic virus.
Mountain Glory is a new variety developed by North Carolina State University’s Randy Garnder. This tomato is tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) resistant and is targeted toward the vine ripe market. It is the TSWV-resistant version of Mountain Glory.