Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016

Summer Cabbage

Final Trials Report

2016

Written by Eva Erhart Trials Office, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 2

RHS Trial of Summer Cabbage

Introduction Cabbage is one of several vegetables of the species Brassica oleracea, in the family Brassicaceae. Brassica oleracea also includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale, though they are of different cultivar groups, cabbages being in the Capitana Group. This trial focused on round and pointed cultivars which are suitable for harvesting in the summer. Trial Location The trial was held at the trial ground of Elsoms Seeds Ltd, Spalding, Lincolnshire. Objectives The objectives of the trial were to assess a range of cultivars and to recommend the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM) to outstanding cultivars for garden use. Judging The Cabbage Trial Assessment Forum viewed the trial on 27 July 2016 and assessed the plants using the following judging criteria:

Uniformity

Quality

Taste

Colour

Shape

Density

Internal stem length

Disease resistance

Maturity

Standing ability The members of the forum were: R Bailey, D Clay, P Dawson, M Day, M Fletcher, D Jeffery, C Randel, B Smith, A Tokely, R White. Entries There were 34 entries, submitted by various seed companies in the UK and the USA. Cultivation The trial was sown on 29 February into modules in Sinclair modular compost with vermiculite. It was noted that three varieties (Golden Acre, Guardian, Stonehead) had poorer/slower germination but still produced enough plants for the trial. The germinating plants were treated with Filan fungicide in late-March.

RHS advice on growing your own summer cabbages can be found here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/cabbages

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 3

Seedlings in the propagation unit on 4 April (photo

taken by Paul Hurst) Seedlings in the propagation unit on 27 April

The trial was planted out on 5 May in soil of silt loam, pH 7.8 – 8.0, with the following spacing for the different groups:

Pointed: 27.5 × 60 cm

Round: 40 × 60 cm

Red: 27.5 × 60 cm

Savoy: 40 × 60 cm Elsoms protected the trial initially with an electrified rabbit netting fence and also used an auditory bird scarer.

Trial entries planted out in the trial ground at Elsoms on 5 May

(photo taken by Paul Hurst) The trial ground at Elsoms on 25 May

(photo taken by Paul Hurst)

The following fertilisers were applied:

prior to planting, Growhow No4 15:15:20 base fertiliser;

on 18 May, OptE Sul;

on 30 May, Double Top;

on 5 July, Croplift Pro;

on 13 July, Nortrace Aquila;

on 19 July, Croplift Pro and Thio S.

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 4

The following list of crop protection was applied throughout the growing period:

herbicide: Springbok (active ingredient: dimethenamid-p + metazachlor);

molluscicide: TDS major (metaldehyde);

insecticides: Biscaya ( thiacloprid), Steward (indoxacarb), Toppel 100 (cypermethrin), Aphox (pirimicarb), Hallmark with Zeon Technology (lambda-cyhalothrin), Alert (alpha-cypermethrin), Tracer (spinosad), Plenum WG (pymetrozine), Laidir 10 CS (lambda-cyhalothrin);

fungicide: Plover (difenoconazole). Findings

Variety & Type

Days % Uniformity QUALITY (1-9) 9- best cm Kg

50% mature

marketable small 1-9 Head shape **

Head colour

density Head length

Head width

Stalk length

Head weight

Caramba 69 73 27 7 8 7 6 20 12 6 0.85

Cape Horn 70 87 13 6 6.5 6 7 19 14 4 0.98

Regency 75 80 20 7 9 8 5 28 12 7 0.80

Duncan 76 90 10 6 7 7.5 4 19 13 7 0.77

TZ 7022 [Tantour] 76 71 29 7 8 8 4 16 10 3 0.47

Caraflex 77 94 6 8 9 7 5 20 12 6 0.88

Advantage 84 * * 5 7 8 3 20 14 8 0.78

Dutchman 86 * * 8 9 8 5 21 12 6 0.78

Summer Jewel 89 * * 7.5 8 8 4 22 11 6 0.75

Mon Petit 90 * * 9 9 8 5 19 10 7 0.67

Elisa 69 77 23 8 6 8 8.5 13 13 4 0.90

Candisa 69 93 7 8 6 8 8 13 13 4 0.85

Delight Ball 70 72 28 6 5 8 9 14 14 5 0.93

Primo II 73 81 19 4 6 7 4.5 15 13 5 0.81

Golden Acre 73 86 14 4 5.5 6 3 13 13 4 0.73

Mona Lisa 74 93 7 8 4 8 7 11 13 4 0.66

Sir 79 74 26 6 5 7 8 14 15 6 1.15

Guardian 79 80 20 7 5 7 8 13 13 6 0.91

Cabbice 79 95 5 9 3 7 6 13 18 6 1.06

Vivaldi 80 93 7 8 5.5 9 9 16 14 9 1.39

Unikat 81 * * 7.5 6 9 7 14 13 5 0.92

Charmant 84 * * 8 5 8 8 13 13 6 1.00

Stonehead 84 * * 7.5 4 8 7 12 14 6 0.83

Shelta 89 * * 8 4.5 9 9 12 12 5 0.72

Primero 72 88 12 8 5 RED 8 12 12 5 0.63

Omero 72 94 6 8 5 RED 8 12 12 4 0.63

Integro 89 * * 9 5.5 RED 7.5 14 12 5 1.17

Alcosa 72 69 31 8 6 5 8 14 12 7 0.61

means 78 * * 7 6 7 6 16 13 6 0.84

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 5

Uniformity and quality were both judged against a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 being the most uniform or best quality. The asterisk (*) denotes that no information was recorded. The shape marked with two asterisks (**) was judged against a scale of 1 to 9 too, where:

9 = pointed

5 = round

1 = flat.

The weather conditions were not ideal for the cabbage trial. It was a very wet summer and the cabbage plot was flooded between mid-June and the beginning of July. The trial was also damaged by hail and pigeons. Therefore the cultivars ‘Greyhound’, ‘Jersey Wakefield’, ‘Derby Day’ and ‘Juna’ were not recorded. The forum members used their expert knowledge in order to have a fair assessment. ‘Advantage’ and ‘Caserta’ were too late for summer harvest. Recommendation for the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) The following are the plants which fulfilled the Award of Garden Merit criteria during the trial and were considered to be worthy of receiving the award. The criteria which a plant needs to fulfil in order to receive the award are:

excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions

available

of good constitution

essentially stable in form and colour

reasonably resistant to pests and diseases

The plants which already had an AGM had to be re-confirmed to keep it; and if they didn’t fulfil the above mentioned criteria and are out-classed by newer varieties, their AGM was rescinded. Hardiness rating H2 Temperature range: 1 ºC – 5 ºC Category: Tender – Cool or frost-free glasshouse Definition: Tolerant of low temperatures, but will not survive being frozen. Except in frost-free inner-city areas or coastal extremities, requires glasshouse conditions in winter, but can be grown outdoors once risk of frost is over.

The Summer Cabbage Trial Assessment Forum recommended the Society's Award of Garden Merit to the following entries, all successful cultivars are hybrids:

‘Caramba’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 1) Sent by Thompson & Morgan Forum comments: Hybrid. Pointed type. Very early. Matures in 60 days, earliest of the pointed varieties. Available from: Thompson & Morgan

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 6

‘Caraflex’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 4) Sent by Elsoms Seeds Forum comments: Hybrid. Early sweetheart type. Useable weight is pretty good. Been harvested twice. Might be a bit big for the garden. Capable of making smaller heads. Available from: Elsoms Seeds, Kings Seeds, Simpsons Seeds.

‘Dutchman’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 8) Sent by Thompson & Morgan Forum comments: Hybrid. Pointed type. Quite uniform. Successful commercially for “Sweetheart cabbage”. Available from: Dobies of Devon, D T Brown, Hazera, Kings Seeds, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Select Seeds, Suttons Seeds, Unwins.

‘Regency’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 9) Sent by Kings Seeds Forum comments: Hybrid. Pointed type. Commercially successful for “Sweetheart cabbage”. Earlier than ‘Dutchman’ (TN8). Available from: D T Brown, Hazera, Kings Seeds, Medwyn’s of Angelsey, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Select Seeds, Suttons Seeds.

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 7

‘Cabbice’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 28) Sent by Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Forum comments: Hybrid. Round type. Japanese flat cabbage. Sweet, heavy and dense. Good taste. Available from: D T Brown, Johnsons Seeds, Kings Seeds, Marshalls Seeds, Medwyn’s of Angelsey, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Select Seeds, Thompson & Morgan.

‘Primero’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 30) Sent in by Elsoms Seeds. Forum comments: Hybrid. Red cabbage. Old variety. Very uniform. Performs well. Small and dense. Grows quickly. Short core. Available from: Elsoms Seeds, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds.

The Summer Cabbage Trial Assessment Forum re-confirmed the Society's Award of Garden Merit to:

‘Elisa’ AGM (H2) 1998, summer (Trial Entry 15) Sent in by Thompson & Morgan. Forum comments: Hybrid. Round type. Has been limited in seed source. Early maturity. 33 heads out of 34 are useable. Quite short stalk. Heavy heads. Available from: Sakata, Thompson & Morgan.

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 8

‘Charmant’ AGM (H2) 1998, summer (Trial Entry 18) Sent in by Sakata UK. Forum comments: Hybrid. Round type. Been around for a while. More white than green. Alternative to ‘Stonehead’ (TN24). Available from: Sakata, Mr Fothergill’s.

‘Shelta’ AGM (H2) 1993, summer (Trial Entry 21) Sent in by Thompson & Morgan. Forum comments: Hybrid. Round type. Small and dense. Some variation in size. Available from: Thompson & Morgan.

‘Candisa’ AGM (H2) 2004, summer (Trial Entry 23) Sent in by Kings Seeds. Forum comments: Hybrid. Round type. Nice short core. Quite big head. Available from: Kings Seeds, Marshalls Seeds, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Sakata, Suttons Seeds.

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 9

‘Stonehead’ AGM (H2) 1993, summer (Trial Entry 24) Sent in by Kings Seeds. Forum comments: Hybrid. Round type. Stands well. Available from: Kings Seeds, Robinson’s Seeds & Plants, Sakata, Sea Spring Seeds, Select Seeds.

The Summer Cabbage Trial Assessment Forum recommended the Society's Award of Garden Merit, subject to AVAILABILITY, to the following entries:

It is the sender’s responsibility to notify the Trials Office that seed has become available for home gardeners to buy. ‘TZ 7022’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 11) Sent by A L Tozer Forum comments: Hybrid. Pointed type. Short stalk. Only half a kg a head. Good size for a modern family. Available only wholesale from A L Tozer.

‘Monalisa’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 25) Sent in by Sakata UK. Forum comments: Hybrid. Round type. Quite early. Earlier than ‘Stonehead’ (TN24). Rather too big. Available only wholesale from Sakata.

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 10

‘Integro’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 32) Sent in by Elsoms Seeds. Forum comments: Hybrid. Red cabbage. Bigger and matures later than ‘Omero’ (TN31) and Primero (TN30). Good size. Market leader. Stands well. Available only wholesale from Elsoms Seeds.

‘Alcosa’ AGM (H2) 2016 (Trial Entry 34) Sent in by Elsoms Seeds. Forum comments: Hybrid. Savoy cabbage. Early. Round. Uniform. Lovely colour. Done well considering the conditions. Available only wholesale from Elsoms Seeds.

The Summer Cabbage Trials Assessment Forum recommended to RESCIND the Society's Award of Garden Merit from: ‘Cape Horn’ AGM (H2) 2002, summer (Trial Entry 2) Sent in by Kings Seeds. Forum comments: Old (around 25 years old) variety from Sakata. The shape is between pointed and round. Heavy weight. Not standing very well. ‘Greyhound’ AGM (H2) 2002, summer (Trial Entry 5) Sent in by Kings Seeds. Forum comments: Open pollinated. Pointed type. Was struggling. ‘Derby Day’ AGM (H2) 1993, summer (Trial Entry 14) Sent in by A L Tozer. Forum comments: Open pollinated. Round type. Was good in its time.

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 11

Index of Plants in the Trial Names that are struck through have been updated / corrected by RHS Botanists during the course of the trial.

No Cultivar Name AGM Sender

POINTED

1 Caramba Thompson & Morgan

2 Cape Horn

AGM (H2) 2002, summer

Kings Seeds (EW King)

3 Mon Petit Johnsons Seeds

4 Caraflex Elsoms Seeds

5 Greyhound AGM (H2) 2002, summer

Kings Seeds (EW King)

6 Jersey Wakefield Thompson & Morgan

7 Duncan AGM (H5) 1993, spring - pointed

Elsoms Seeds

8 Dutchman Thompson & Morgan

9 Regency Kings Seeds (EW King)

10 Summer Jewel Thompson & Morgan

11 TZ 7022 [Tantour] A L Tozer

12 Advantage AGM (H5) 2011, spring

A L Tozer

ROUND

13 Delight Ball D. T. Brown

14 Derby Day AGM (H2) 1993, summer

A L Tozer

15 Elisa AGM (H2) 1998, summer

Thompson & Morgan

16 Primo II Western Hybrid Seeds, Inc

17 Golden Acre Kings Seeds (EW King)

18 Charmant AGM (H2) 1998, summer

Sakata UK

19 Guardian Mr Fothergills Seeds

20 Juna Pro-Veg Seeds

21 Shelta AGM (H2) 2004, summer

Thompson & Morgan

22 SIR Thompson & Morgan

23 Candisa AGM (H2) 2004, summer

Kings Seeds (EW King)

24 Stonehead AGM (H2) 1993, summer

Kings Seeds (EW King)

25 Monalisa Sakata UK

26 Vivaldi Hazera Seeds

27 Unikat Pro-Veg Seeds

28 Cabbice Mr Fothergills Seeds

29 Attraction Hazera Seeds

RED

30 Primero Elsoms Seeds

31 Omero Elsoms Seeds

32 Integro Elsoms Seeds

SAVOY

33 Caserta Mr Fothergills Seeds

34 Alcosa Elsoms Seeds

Final Report for Trial No. 2024 – Summer Cabbage 2016 12

Sender details:

A L Tozer, Pyports, Downside Bridge Rd, Cobham KT11 3EH, Tel. 01932 862059, www.tozerseeds.com

D T Brown, Bury Road, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7PQ, Tel. 0333 003 0869, www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk

Elsoms Seeds, Pinchbeck Rd, Spalding PE11 1QG, Tel. 01775 715000, www.elsoms.com

Kings Seeds (EW King), Monks Farm, Colchester CO5 9PG, Tel. 01376 570000, www.kingsseeds.com

Hazera Seeds, J.N.R.C., Rothwell, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN7 6DT, Tel. 01472 371531, www.hazera.uk.com

Johnsons Seeds, Gazeley Rd, Newmarket CB8 7QA, Tel. 0333 321 3103, www.johnsons-seeds.com

Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Gazeley Rd, Kentford, Suffolk CB8 7QB, Tel. 0333 777 3936, www.mr-fothergills.co.uk

Pro-Veg Seeds, 6 Shingay Ln, Sawston, Cambridge CB22 3SS, Tel. 01223 499131, www.provegseeds.com/

Sakata UK, Spalding Rd, Boston PE20 2EW, Tel. 01205 462810, www.sakata-vegetables.eu/vegetables/en

Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU, Tel. 0844 248 5383, www.thompson-morgan.com

Western Hybrid Seeds, Inc, PO Box 1169. Hamilton City CA 95951. United States, Tel. +1 (530) 342 3410

Please note: Sources of seed for these cultivars may vary from year to year. Acknowledgements The RHS would like to thank Elsoms Seeds Ltd for kindly hosting the trial, with especial thanks to Paul Hurst, Trials Manager, and his team.

Source: Horticultural Trials and Relations, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB

Tel: 01483 224234 & Email: trials@rhs.org.uk

More information about RHS Trials and other Trials reports can be found on the RHS Website at www.rhs.org.uk/trials