Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 1

Carrot – Main Crop Trial Report

2014

Trials Office, The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB

Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 2

RHS Trial of Main Crop Carrots

Introduction: There were 39 entries in the Trial submitted by various seed companies in the UK and Europe. The objectives of the trial were:

To evaluate a range of cultivars suitable for the amateur gardener.

To recommend the Award of Garden Merit [AGM] to outstanding cultivars for garden use.

To demonstrate the cultivation of this crop to garden visitors. Cultivation:

Following bed preparation the seeds were direct sown on 13 May: two rows per cultivar, with 30cm between rows and 40cm between cultivars. Seed was sown thinly along 1cm deep drills. A guard row was sown at each end of the trial bed.

Environmesh was used to cover the bed to protect against carrot fly.

Plants were thinned to 2.5cm on 6 June and the environmesh replaced with horticultural fleece.

A second sowing took place in mid-June.

The first and second sowings was harvested and assessed mid-September and mid- November respectively.

Judging

The trial was assessed for the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Vegetable Trials Assessment Forum during September and November using the following criteria:

taste; uniformity; yield; quality of appearance; resistance to pests and disease Recommendation for the Award of Garden Merit: The over-arching criteria for recommendation of plants for the RHS Award of Garden Merit

(AGM) are:

Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions

Available

Of good constitution

Essentially stable in form and colour

Reasonably resistant to pests and disease

Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 3

The Forum recommended the Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT (H3) to:

Artemis (H3) [Trial No 2] Seed sent by and available from D T Brown http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/ Forum remarks: Berlicum x Autumn King type. Smooth skin, uniform, healthy tops, good flavour.

Extremo (H3) [Trial No 13] Seed sent by and available from Mr Fothergills http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/ Forum remarks: Chantenay hybrid, smooth skin, tapered root, reasonably uniform, healthy tops, good skin and internal colour.

Kelly (H3) [Trial No 16] Seed sent by Elsoms Seeds. Available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: Nantes x Kuroda hybrid. Tapered root, good colour, broad shoulders, smooth skin, good flavour.

Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 4

Resistafly (H3) [Trial No 23] Seed sent by and available from Tozer Seeds. Also available from Unwins, Marshalls and Thompson & Morgan. Forum remarks: Nantes type. Bred for intermediate carrot-fly resistance. Smooth skin, good uniformity, well-stumped root, good colour, nice flavour.

Romance (H3) [Trial No 25] Seed sent by and available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: Longer, early maturing Nantes type, although looks like a Berlicum. Smooth skin, no splitting, dense texture, good colour.

Sylvano (H3) [Trial No 29] Seed sent by Hazera Seeds. Available from Plants of Distinction, Abacus House, Station Yard, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8AS http://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/ Forum remarks: Nantes x Kuroda type, very smooth skin, good colour, healthy foliage, good for late sowing.

Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 5

Deep Purple (H3) [Trial No 37] Seed sent by Elsoms Seeds. Available from Chiltern Seeds http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/ Forum remarks: Purple skin and internally throughout. Reasonable uniformity of crop, tapered roots, pleasant flavour.

The Forum recommended the Society’s Award of Garden Merit (H3) SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY to:

Belgrado (H3) [Trial No 5] Seed sent by Elsoms Seeds. Forum remarks: Berlicum x Autumn King type. Smooth skin, good shape, sweet flavour, crunchy texture. Not currently available.

Natuna (H3) [Trial No 21] Seed sent by Elsoms Seeds. Forum remarks: Nantes type, high yield, excellent uniformity, cylindrical, smooth. Light flavour. Not currently available.

Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 6

The Forum reconfirmed the Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT for:

Eskimo (H5) [Trial No 12] Seed sent by and available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: excellent all-round commercial and home-garden variety, very winter hardy.

Maestro (H3) [Trial No 18] Seed sent by and available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: Nantes hybrid, uniform crop, good colour and taste.

Nairobi (H3) [Trial No 20] Seed sent by and available from Kings Seeds Monks Farm, Coggeshall Road, Kelvedon, Colchester, Essex, CO5 9PG https://www.kingsseeds.com/ Forum remarks: strong Nantes hybrid, consistent, stands well, high yield.

Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 7

Sweet Candle (H3) [Trial No 28] Seed sent by and available from Kings Seeds Monks Farm, Coggeshall Road, Kelvedon, Colchester, Essex, CO5 9PG https://www.kingsseeds.com/ also from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: a cylindrical Nantes type, small core, small tops, deep orange colour, uniform.

The Forum rescinded the Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT for: Autumn King 2 [Trial No 3] (votes 8-0) Forum remarks: Poor uniformity, rough skin and general poor quality. Superseded. Campestra [Trial No 7] (votes 8-0) Forum remarks: little uniformity, pale orange, green shoulders. Superseded. Carson [Trial No 8] (votes 10-0) Forum remarks: little uniformity, Alternaria carotiincultae causing leaf blight, superseded. Ingot [Trial No 15] (votes 8-0) Forum remarks: Splitting badly. Thin stand, not uniform. Superseded.

AGM = RHS Award of Garden Merit H3 = Hardy in coastal/mild areas, except in hard winters and at risk from sudden (early) frosts. Can survive with artificial winter protection. H4 = Hardy through most of the UK apart from inland valleys, at altitude and central/northerly locations. H5 = Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters. May not withstand open or exposed sites or central/northern locations. Vegetable Trials Forum Members: J Barker, C Randel, Dr P Dawson, M Day, J England, Dr M Fletcher, I Gillott, T Hewitt, D I Jeffery, S Mercer, C Moncrieff, B Smith, S Wain, R White.

Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 8

Index of Plants in the Trial

Trial Entry

Name

AGM

Sender

1 A#1 Burpee Europe

2 Artemis D T Brown

3 Autumn King 2 1995 Thompson & Morgan

4 Bangor 1993 Thompson & Morgan

5 Belgrado Elsoms Seeds

6 Bolero 1993 Suttons Seeds

7 Campestra 1993 Tozer Seeds

8 Carson 2005 Thompson & Morgan

9 Cascade Mr Fothergill’s Seeds

10 Chantenay redcored Thompson & Morgan

11 Cortina Mr Fothergill’s Seeds

12 Eskimo 2005 Thompson & Morgan

13 Extremo Mr Fothergill’s Seeds

14 Flyaway 1999 Tozer Seeds

15 Ingot 1993 Kings Seeds

16 Kelly Elsoms Seeds

17 Koloseum Pro-Veg Seeds

18 Maestro 1999 Thompson & Morgan

19 Marion 2010 D T Brown

20 Nairobi 1999 Kings Seeds

21 Natuna Elsoms Seeds

22 Nigel Thompson & Morgan

23 Resistafly Tozer Seeds

24 Rocket Tozer Seeds

25 Romance Thompson & Morgan

26 Short ‘n Sweet Burpee Europe

27 Sugarsnax 54 2005 Thompson & Morgan

28 Sweet Candle 2005 Kings Seeds

29 Sylvano Hazera

Final Report for Trial No.2010 – Carrot: Main-crop 2014 9

Trial Entry

Name

AGM

Sender

30 Tendersnax Thompson & Morgan

31 TZ9304 Tozer Seeds

32 Yellowstone Thompson & Morgan

33 White Satin Elsoms Seeds

34 Ideal Red 2006 Tozer Seeds

35 Red Samurai Tozer Seeds

36 Rainbow Elsoms Seeds

37 Deep Purple Elsoms Seeds

38 Purple Haze Johnsons

39 Purple Sun Thompson & Morgan

Sender details:

Burpee Europe: Yew Tree Cottage Main Road, Foston-on-the-wolds, Driffield, East Yorkshire,YO25 8BJ

D T Brown: 0845 3710532; www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk

Elsoms Seeds: 01775 715000; www.elsoms.com

Hazera: 01472 371531; www.hazera.com

Johnsons: 0845 6589147; www.johnsons-seeds.com

Kings Seeds: 01376 570000; www.kingsseeds.com

Mr Fothergill’s Seeds: 0845 3710518; www.mr-fothergills.co.uk

Pro-Veg Seeds: 01223 499130; www.provegseeds.com

Suttons: 0333 400 2899; www.suttons.co.uk

Thompson & Morgan: 0844 248 5383; www.thompson-morgan.com

Tozer Seeds: 01932 862059; www.tozerseeds.com

Cover photograph: Trial entry No. 38 Purple Haze.

Source: Horticultural Trials and Relations, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB

Tel: 01483 224234 & Email: trials@rhs.org.uk

More information about RHS Trials and other Trials reports can be found on the RHS Website at www.rhs.org.uk/trials