UK: Asparagus varieties in development

Although asparagus has been grown for years and years, ever improving varieties are still being released. The development of varieties has different aims depending on the production of white or green asparagus.

Tip quality for example is far more important in green than in white asparagus and on the contrary, hollow spears hardly occur in green but are of high importance for white asparagus varieties.

The UK is a green asparagus producer and although white varieties have been grown in green production for years, today there are varieties available that are especially bred for green asparagus. The importance of development of new varieties comes clear if you consider Hargreaves Plants’ entry in the fourth international asparagus cultivar trial (4rd IACT).

This trial is performed all over the world by different research facilities. Hargreaves Plants, normally a propagator of crowns, planted the English entry in the IACT last April next to its existing trials.

For more information:
Vincent Dupré
Hargreaves Plants
Tel: +44 (0) 7887 418 934
[email protected]
www.hargreavesplants.com