Vegetable growers
BY JOYCE BUPP
Staff Correspondent
YORK - Consumer eating
habits are undoubtedly changing.
And few segments of agriculture
are in a better position to benefit
from that trend than the area’s
vegetable growers.
That was the general message
presented by several Penn State
extension speakers during the
February 19 York-Lancaster
vegetable growers meeting, held
at Rutter’s Restaurant.
Keeping up with consumer
preferences means planting the
latest, improved varieties for
maximum yield, appearance and
taste. According to extension
horticulturist Dr. Pete Ferretti,
recent changes in the Plant
Varieties Protection Act have sent
the horticulture industry full speed
ahead in the development of new
varieties.
He further predicted that if
promised genetic engineering
developments come about as
scientists expect, unbelievable
strides in the plant industry are not
far in the future.
Peppers are among vegetables
seeing the most rapidly growing
consumer demand. Based on
University trials, Ferretti
recommends a new bell type,
dubbed Gator Bell, which matures
two to three days ahead of others.
Additional popular varieties in
clude Bell Boy, Lady Bell and
Green Boy.
A new blocky yellow, Marengo,
shows considerable promise.
Yellow peppers are the current
craze in Europe, notes Ferretti.
Sweeter and more tender than
reds, they are considered the
ultimate pepper on flavor and
quality.
Popularity of Mexican foods has
added to the demand for peppers,
especially frying and “hot” types.
In fact, Ferretti advised growers
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to plant the seeds ot "any hot
pepper you can get seed of ”
One top quality frying type is
Fry King, thin-skinned and thick
fleshed. For spicy palates, the
Tam Mild Chile #2 and Tam Mild
Jalapeno # 1 are recommended
Sugar-enhanced, known as
“super-sweet,” corn is gaining
plenty of public attention recently.
However, the need by this type of
corn for isolation from other
varieties is a major drawback for
small patch growers Cross
pollination with other varieties
results in a starchy, tasteless ear
of corn. This isolation requirement
may limit the use of super-sweets
for home gardens.
But Ferretti says that the good
news for sweet corn lovers is that
tasty corn may soon be available
year round. Tasteless winter corn
on-the-cob has not helped sales
levels opf sweet corn in the past,
since a batch of the flavorless,
shipped type may completely turn
a consumer against all sweet corn.
Varieties of sweet corn
recommended for the area include
the yellow Seneca hybrid, with
good levels of cold tolerance, the
bicolor Crystal-N-Gold, and white
types Spring Crystal, Pearl White
amd Snowbelle.
Mulched corn, grown under
slitted plastic, is gaining a
following by growers aiming for
the lucrative early market.
Suitable mulching varieties in
clude yellows Gold Dust, Seneca
Star, Seneca Horizon and Sun
dance. Jazz, Crystal-N-Gold, and
Pride-N-Joy are three bicolors
which perform well under mulch,
and recommended whites are
Spring Crystal, Pearl White and
Quicksilver.
Snap beans continue to be
popular for both fresh retailing and
processing. The variety Flo is a
general, multi-purpose type, useful
for both fresh and shipping and
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RD 4, East Farmersville Rd., Ephrata, PA 17522
told to follow consumer tastes
Directors for the York vegetable growers include, front from left, David Miller, ex
tension representative Tom Becker and Will Eshbaugh; and rear, Jim Markey, Heil
Markey and Earl Miller.
adaptable for hand and machine
harvest, with tolerance to an
thracnose. Other popular greens
are Strike, Eagle and 8.8. Lake,
although the last tends toward
curling of the beans. Recom
mended yellow types are
Goldrush, Midas and Majestic.
year’s muskmelon trials in
Cufnberland County showed the
variety Columbia to be the best of
the lot. More locally grown and
more perishable specialty melons
appear to be a marketing trend of
the future tor growers to watch.
Honeydews are enjoying in
creased popularity, with Limelight
one of the best. Honeylope com
bines the best qualities of
honeydews and cantaloupes, but
keeps growers guessing on the best
time to harvest. Another cross,
Honeyshaw, blends the charac-
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Broccoli continues to enjoy
climbing popularity on America’s
dinnertables, promoted by the
medical profession as nutritious,
fiber rich and possibly anti
carcmogemc. The variety Pack
man is surpassing earlier Comet
favorites, maturing early at 48
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A new cucumber variety, Comet
86, came through testing at Cornell
with excellent results. Comet 86
displayed a tolerance to all major
cucurbit diseases, harvested
plentiful yields and matured at 60
days. Other recommended are
Raider, Pacer, SZweet Slice,
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less disease resistance, and the
standard Marketmore.
days. A new main season is
Prominence, superior to the
widely-grown Premium Crop.
Good later varieties are Green
Defender and Shogun.
Also high on the cole crop
popularity list is cauliflower, with
Snow Crown still the favored early.
The longer maturing Sno-pak
shows more promise as a late
season type, due to better leaf
cover of the head.
“Minor vegetables will continue
to be profitable for growers,”
advised Ferretti, as retailers and
food service ride the nutrition
trend toward fresh produce.
One crop in constant high
demand and perpetual short
supply is asparagus. Growers
should consider both Jersey Giant
and Jersey Centennial, much
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