De Lier, The Netherlands
August 1, 2024
A good root system, strong against fungi and long field standability – these are all traits that organic growers value in brassicas. A number of new brassica varieties from Rijk Zwaan excel in these areas. Crop Specialist John Buijsman highlights six particularly surprising varieties out of the company’s total range of more than 50 brassicas. The whole range is summarised in a handy leaflet.
Heat-tolerant broccoli Alcaraz RZ
Broccoli variety Alcaraz is a particularly interesting newcomer because the variety is tolerant to hot periods. Buijsman: “Few varieties can cope well with temperatures of 30 to 35°C, but Alcaraz retains its uniformity and quality. This makes the variety suitable for Mediterranean climates in spring and autumn, and for temperate climates in summer. Besides that, it is a heavy broccoli. Its slightly higher dome prevents water from staying on it, so it is less likely to rot.”
New cauliflower Brigant RZ for winter cultivation
The new cauliflower variety Brigant is similarly notable. Buijsman describes this variety as robust with strong vigour. “Even in the case of lower light levels and variable weather conditions, this variety delivers consistent quality thanks to its good roots. That makes Brigant suitable for winter cultivation in warm regions in Australia, the USA or southern Europe, for example. Moreover, its long field standability gives organic growers more harvesting flexibility.”
Cauliflower Jonsson RZ is strong against fungi
Another cauliflower variety worth mentioning is Jonsson. This summer and autumn variety, which is strong against fungi, has been available to organic growers in temperate climates since last year. “The good wax layer on the leaves prevents spores from penetrating. I must point out that this cauliflower variety is less vigorous in heavy soil or dry conditions, but it performs well in wet and dark weather conditions,” Buijsman states.
Pointed cabbage Sportima RZ is fast and vigorous
The list of highlights includes pointed cabbage Sportima, which has been on the market for two years. Buijsman regards this variety as the perfect combination of vigour, speed and shape. “First and foremost, those traits mean that the variety can be cultivated very widely – by organic growers in temperate climates in spring and summer, and by growers in hot climates in spring and autumn. The variety is fast and vigorous, but never loses its attractive, slender shape.”
White cabbage all-rounder Mucsuma RZ
Although it is not new, having been an organic all-rounder on the market for a decade, white cabbage Mucsuma is nevertheless interesting. “This variety has good roots, can cope with low nitrogen levels, and is strong against fungal diseases and thrips. That makes it an ideal white cabbage for organic growers. In temperate climates, Mucsuma is suitable for summer and autumn cycles and as a cabbage for storage, while in hot climates it can be grown in the autumn. Because of its strong traits and wide applicability, we now offer organic seeds of this variety,” says the crop specialist.
Organic seeds available of red cabbage Futurima RZ
Another new development is the availability of organic seeds of the red cabbage variety Futurima, in addition to white cabbage Kalorama RZ, kohlrabi varieties Eder RZ and Lech RZ, and savoy cabbage Madlene RZ. Buijsman: “When cultivating these seeds, we follow the organic guidelines; we do not use chemicals or synthetic fertilisers, and we keep the organic seeds strictly separate from conventional seeds during processing. The rules for using organic seeds vary from country to country. Even organic growers who need to comply with strict regulations can count on Rijk Zwaan for strong varieties.”
Click here to download the leaflet that summarises more than 50 brassica varieties, including their traits and suitability for organic cultivation.
Download our organic brassica leaflet:
Organic brassicas leaflet (PDF) Download
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