SPRING PEAS

High yielding white seeded Gregor is the only variety to gain a full recommendation for 2011. The new white seeded variety Salamanca was added to the list with a provisional (P1) recommendation. Yields of Salamanca are only a little below Mascara, but has better standing ability and downy mildew resistance.


Three large blue varieties - Daytona, Bluestar and Madras progress from P1 to P2 recommendation. All three varieties yield a little lower than top yielding variety Crackerjack.

Marrowfat Neon was added to the list with a provisional (P1) recommendation. Neon becomes the top yielding marrowfat, but seed size is a little small, similar to Falstaff.

Maple pea Mantara has maintained a high yield potential and progresses from P1 to P2 recommendation.

Mascara and Ragtime (white), Crackerjack and Prophet (large blue) Hawaii (small blue), Rose (maple) and Sakura, Genki, Falstaff and Kahuna (marrowfats) all remain fully recommended varieties within their categories.


WINTER BEANS

Pale hilum bean Sultan gained a full recommendation for 2011. Yield is a little lower than other winter bean varieties, but having short, stiff straw and early maturity, it could find favour in late maturing areas. Seed size is smaller than Wizard, more like that of spring bean Fuego.

Husky, also with a pale hilum, progresses from P1 to P2 recommendation and becomes the highest yielding winter bean.
Wizard (pale hilum) and Arthur (black hilum) remain fully recommended and Clipper (black hilum) remains in the outclassed category for a further year.


SPRING BEANS

Tattoo (white flowered and low tannin) gained a full recommendation for 2011. It is lower yielding than coloured flowered types, but could have a use for on-farm feeding at higher inclusion rates.

Fury and Pyramid (both pale hilum) progress from P1 to P2 recommendation and both varieties out-yield the market leader Fuego.

New to the list is Babylon with a P1 recommendation. Yields are higher than Fuego and limited data suggest a downy mildew rating similar to Fuego. Fuego (pale hilum) and Maris Bead (tic bean) remain fully recommended within their respective categories.

DETAILS OF THE TRIALS PROGRAMME

The trials programme consisted of Recommended List (RL) trials for spring peas and spring and winter beans.

All nine of the pea trials in the PGRO Recommended List series were successfully harvested. Yields were generally a little higher than 2009, but crops harvested after the August rainfalls suffered from bleaching. Levels of pests (particularly aphid) and diseases were relatively low. Seven of the nine spring bean trials were harvested. The two northern trials at Cockle Park and Headley Hall suffered establishment problems and lack of rainfall. Spring bean yields were generally lower because of the dry summer, and bruchid damage levels were higher than the previous year. Crops north of the Wash had better quality and higher yields. All six winter bean trials went through to harvest but yields were down because of the dry summer. Chocolate spot was a problem in some areas.