Cooperative Extension Service
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia

Volume 4/Number 11

November 2000

George Boyhan, Extension Horticulturist-Vegetables
East Georgia Extension Center
Rosenwald Building, Third Floor
PO Box 8112
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460
912-681-5639 | 912-681-0376, Fax | 912-682-3481, mobile

2000 Variety Trial Storage Results

Last year, we evaluated 27 varieties at the Vidalia Farm and 22 at Bland Farm. I have shared the results of those trials in past newsletters. Recently (October 10-12, 2000), we opened the CA rooms in Tifton and evaluated the variety trials as to their performance in storage. Results of these tests are in the tables below.

Each variety was harvested twice; the first harvest was one week prior to the estimated optimum harvest and the second harvest was when the onions were at optimum maturity for that variety. Overall, the second harvest had a higher percent marketable onions coming out of storage compared to the first harvest. This may be skewed, however, since several entries are not represented in the second harvest due to severe sour skin during the latter part of the harvest season. This resulted in late varieties having no harvestable (or very few) bulbs during the second harvest.

Loss in storage was primarily due to Botyrtis neck rot. Differences in pre- and post-storage weights were probably due to water loss. Differences in pre-storage and marketable onions are due primarily to disease losses. Percent marketable onions was as low as 21 percent for Nikita and as high as 83 percent for Sweet Melody at the Vidalia Farm. At Bland's, the lowest percent marketable was for SXO 1519 at 22 percent and 92 percent for Granex 33.

Regional Variety Trials Are Available

Joe Kemble, the extension specialist at Auburn University, has taken the lead in publishing the latest regional variety trial bulletin. Auburn University publishes a bulletin of variety trials twice a year, with contributions from many southeastern states. In the latest publication, trials are listed from Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and, of course, Georgia. We have our watermelon, cantaloupe, onion and garlic trials listed. This publication is an excellent resource on the latest commercial vegetable varieties available. Statistical information and information on test conditions have been standardized across the trials, making them easy to read and understand.

The Spring 2000 Commercial Vegetable Variety Trials, Regional Bulletin 05, is available on the web at http://www.ag.auburn.edu/resinfo/vegetables/spring2000.pdf

You will need Acrobat Reader to open the file.

Upcoming Events of Interest

On January 5-7, 2001, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Winter Conference (click for more information) is scheduled. As with last year, this year's conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia. Along with the two-day vegetable program, there will be a blueberry program, muscadine program and strawberry program. The Southeastern Peach Convention, GA/SC Roadside Markets Conference, and the GA/SC Wine Grape Conference will be held concurrently. Vendors will have displays available for viewing also. Special guests will include Senator Zell Miller, Congressman Lindsey Graham and Congressman Sanford Bishop. This is a great opportunity for you and your growers to get the latest information and to interact with others in their industries. If you need further information, please contact Terry Kelley, the GFVGA or me.

Winter School is coming up in January. As all of you know, it is planned for January 17-19, 2001. We will have three sessions that may be of interest. W1907, "Market Opportunities in Organic Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables," is planned for Thursday at 10-11:30 a.m. This is the introductory session to a series of workshops planned by Georgia Organics, Inc., to train agents in organic production. I had the opportunity to attend the workshop last year and thought it was very informative. In addition, there will be two vegetable sessions. The first will be W1908, "Commercial Vegetable Production: Introductory," which will be on Thursday 8-11:30 a.m. The second will be Thursday from 1:15-2:45 p.m. and is W1909, "Advanced Commercial Vegetable Production." If you haven't already done so, these would be great sessions to sign up for.

Finally, Georgia Organics is having their Winter Conference on February 9-10, 2001, near Augusta, Georgia, at the Savannah Rapids Pavillion. The theme for the conference is "Growing a Healthy Community: From Local Farm to Your Table." The keynote speaker will be Sally Fallon, a nutritionist and author. There is a luncheon planned, which will be prepared by Chef Heinz Sowinski of La Maison on Telfair, one of Augusta's best restaurants. This sounds like an excellent opportunity for agents in southeast Georgia to become familiar with organic production. So much of organic production is centered in the northern part of the state that this may be one of the few opportunities to become familiar with organic production.

From My Desk

You may have noticed that this newsletter is right on the heels of the October newsletter. I was so far behind that I thought I should get this one out right away. Everyone have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.