We all know summer is a crucial season for horticulture, but also one of the most complex as the high temperatures, water stress, pathogens becoming active, and soils not always in optimal condition make sowing and transplanting a delicate affair. In this context, the correct agronomic strategy and the right variety choice make all the difference.
"Several factors must be taken into account when sowing or transplanting in summer, starting with the thermal and water stresses that crops have to face. High temperatures can cause germination problems or, in other cases, favour the development of Fusarium. Key crops for the summer season include rocket and pumpkin, where Levantia is achieving important results," explains Samuele Pellegrini, General Manager of Levantia Seed.
"Summer is a highly critical period for summer rocket, especially in the most suitable areas. Fusarium oxysporum is a real problem from June to November because the hot soil creates the perfect conditions for root attack. The plants collapse, and production is lost. That is why our Rome rocket is now the reference for these months: it is the most popular variety, with very high tolerance to Fusarium even in its most aggressive forms."
But Rome is not only resistant to fungal attacks. "Its regular indentation is a further distinguishing feature and customers are really pleased with it because it improves aesthetics and also workability for the fresh-cut sector. The water slides better on the leaves and their shape, not being flat, adheres less to the bag thereby improving shelf life. Rome maintains its consistency and colour even after washing."
"Another strong point of our wild rocket varieties is their high germinability, which allows us to avoid scaly plants that result in uneven growth and negative effects on the harvest. Our seeds undergo careful tests carried out both in-house and in accredited laboratories before being marketed. In fact, the seeds, besides having a high germination percentage, are free of Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria spp and Xanthomonas campestris pv. Campestris."
Levantia also offers the Padua variety, which differs from Rome in leaf colour - which is slightly darker - and boasts excellent resistance to Fusarium. "We are working on hybrids with high tolerance to Bremia, a pathogen that manifests itself especially in spring and autumn, when there are temperature fluctuations. The first results are very promising."
For cucurbits too, summer sowing calls for attention. "Plant architecture is one of the key aspects, as fruit setting close to the stem protects against sunburn and maintains quality and size."
The top varieties for the summer season are undoubtedly Dulcimaks, Dulcistore, Vanity and Reddy, and include the new KG 84 and KG65 selected for their mildew tolerance, good vigour and interesting yields even at high temperatures. A major plus is powdery mildew resistance, which is particularly well developed in some categories such as Halloween pumpkins, while intensive research is underway on others such as kabocha.
"Our varieties are not only beautiful to look at, but also effective from an agronomic point of view, as they guarantee homogeneous harvests, longer shelf life, and less post-harvest loss. As far as pumpkins are concerned, in order to have a good compromise between number of plants and yield, we suggest a planting pattern of 5000-6000 plants per hectare. It is important to have a good number of plants because it favours not only good yields in the field, but also faster ground cover, facilitating better weed control. For wild rocket, on the other hand, the suggested investment in the summer period is 1700-1800 plants per square metre in order to have a good number of plants that can grow healthy and homogeneous, thereby guaranteeing excellent yields per square metre. Because only with the right density and high-performance genetics can you obtain a healthy and profitable product."
For more information:
Levantia Seed Srl
Via Luigi Savoia 18/B
45014 Porto Viro (RO) - Italy
+39 335 5662226
+39 342 1635715
[email protected]
www.levantiaseed.it