Trials

Hargreaves Plants has asparagus trials planted worldwide in all of the major asparagus producing areas.  Included within this number is its own site that has been set up in order to evaluate varieties as well as a broad array of agronomic aspects.  The main site is based in West Norfolk, UK on deep sand land.

Variety Trials

In total, almost 250 lines from 16 worldwide breeding programs were evaluated on the original 2.5ha site.  The provenance of these varieties extends from North/South Europe to Canada, America, New Zealand and even Taiwan, amongst others.  Circa 80% of these have now been discarded.  As a result Hargreaves Plants has selected the best 50 lines/controls and established an all new testing site, also in West Norfolk.  A large proportion of the trial is set down to numbered selections and these are being compared against industry standard varieties from around the world. 

Hargreaves Plants stages official open days for industry to take a closer look, but others wishing to arrange a more private viewing are welcomed.  Please make contact.

Agronomic Trials

The company has planted an agronomic trial of Guelph Millennium. Here, the company is aiming to find the optimum planting density and crown depth for the variety.  Hargreaves Plants will update on the results from the trial.

Hargreaves Plants Trials - Results Update

To date, the company has invested over £125,000 in its asparagus trials.  The first fruits from this massive investment are now being seen with improved cultivars such as Mondeo and Guelph Millennium.

The real excitement is in the new range of numbered hybrids which are providing a quantum leap forward of the current industry standards.

Considering that it take circa 10 years from selecting a new hybrid to having commercial volumes of seeds on the market, this is no short term operation.  However, the company is already half way down this road with the best new selections, so it will soon be in a position to offer growers the opportunity to improve their marketable yields by up to 50%.

Growers will be updated throughout this process.