Following on from the successful lettuce and cabbage variety trials by organic grower groups in 2005, growers will have the opportunity to trial different potato and leek varieties this coming season.

NIAB and HDRA have been trialling varieties of vegetables under organic conditions for many years. In 2005 for the first time funding was secured from DEFRA to extend the programme to involve growers in evaluating varieties on their own holdings. Working in conjunction with the Soil Association five groups of growers around the country were recruited to trial a range of varieties from two different crops, lettuce and cabbage. The groups involved were the Devon Organic Growers, Flights Orchard Organics growers in Herefordshire, a Welsh group coordinated by the Organic Centre Wales, River Nene growers in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk and Cornwall growers through the Organic Studies Centre at Duchy College.

Twenty one growers completed the lettuce trials, representing many different scales of production and market outlet, each growing at least four varieties out of a choice of sixteen. The top performing varieties were; Remus and Reale for Cos types, Coquette for crisp, Noisette and Rosinski for Batavian types, Lorenzo – a Lollo Bionda and Sirmai a red oak leaf.

Seven growers completed summer/autumn cabbage trials. The best hybrid green round type was Invento. Roulette, a hybrid Savoy x white variety also looked promising.

For 2006 growers will have a choice of around sixteen varieties of hybrid and open-pollinated leeks and a range of varieties of potatoes. Leeks are an important organic crop and data on vigour, quality and rust resistance at different sites will provide valuable information to growers.   A number of potato varieties are available as organic seed and this programme gives an opportunity to test them under a wide range of conditions. Potato late blight is still the biggest problem facing organic potato growers but a number of varieties, including the Sárpo cultivars introduced from Hungary show promising resistance. By trialling these in the high blight pressure areas of Cornwall and North Wales varieties will be put through their paces. With increased demand for organic leeks and potatoes these trials will provide valuable information and  to all growers of these crops.

For more reports and results visit www.cosi.org.uk   If you are interested in taking part in the trials please contact Phil Sumption at HDRA Tel: 02476 308200 fax: 02476 639229 or email psumption@hdra.org.uk

HDRA's scientific research programme is carried out to develop and improve the techniques used in organic agriculture and to advance the knowledge of organic production systems, focusing on commercial organic horticulture in temperate areas and on resource-poor systems in developing countries.

At present, HDRA is involved in a wide range of projects, funded by DEFRA's research programme on organic farming, DFID and industry. The research projects are carried out in close collaboration with other research institutes nationally and internationally.

HDRA has recently adopted the name Garden Organic for its public facing work, but continues to use HDRA in conjunction with its research.