New Australian Truss vines for greenhouse cultivation:
Merlice has grower needs all trussed up
Murphyfresh Hydroponics, grower and General Manager, Jon Murphy, said he has never seen anything like Merlice. “It has gone past the limitations of what it is meant to handle, we keep throwing more at it and it keeps on giving,” said Mr Murphy. “The Merlice variety has delivered extraordinary value. It is setting terrific fruit over the summer, making for easy to pickings at harvest.
“It is hands down the best variety we’ve ever grown. The shorter internodes will reduce labour and the powdery mildew resistance means our fungicide inputs are very low,” Mr Murphy said. Merlice is a new easy-to-grow variety delivering consistent results, high yields and powdery mildew resistance for growers with average fruit weights between 130-150gm. Its resistance package reduces the need to spray fungicides, preserving beneficial insects.
Sowing for Merlice occurs in late autumn and early winter with harvest generally underway from late August to the middle of June. The characteristics of Merlice include good overall production, uniform fruit and outstanding quality and colour – particularly during the winter months.
Merlice has been developed by De Ruiter and signals a long term commitment to the Australian sector. Monsanto’s Global Vegetable Lead Kenny Avery recently toured Murphyfresh Hydroponics to see this groundbreaking variety first hand. For more information visit deruiterseeds.com
For more information
Monsanto
Adam Blight
+ 61 3 9522 7126
[email protected]
