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Catalogue Organic Seeds USA & Canada 2019

Index Herbs Herbs

Index Herbs Herbs recommended for pot production. Parsley, Flat Leaf Petroselinum crispum Peione Gigante d’Italia Peione A large, flat leaved variety that is a dependable standard—very aromatic and high yielding. Peione is a standout Italian large leaf variety with large, glossy, dark green leaves and uniform habit. Vigorous plants are highly productive, with strong regrowth and intermediate resistance to downy mildew. Thick, sturdy stems and upright growth make for easy bunching. Resistances: IR: Pp. Wega Parsley, Curly Leaf Petroselinum crispum Wega Wega is a double curl parsley that delivers high uniformity, dark color and upright, strong stems. Adaptable for both fresh cut or mechanical harvest, as well as open field and potted herb programs. The architecture of the plant makes for easy, clean bunches. Wega also offers excellent shelf life. Fanni Sage Salvia officinalis Fanni A quality sage selection with large leaves, excellent yield and dependable germination. Fanni produces well in open field and greenhouse conditions. German Winter Thyme Thymus vulgaris German Winter A bushy plant with broad leaves that can be used for open field or greenhouse production of fresh or dried product. Watercress Nasturtium oficinales Avona new! Avona This succulent and pungent True Watercress is an excellent addition to babyleaf blends. Adaptable for pot and open field production, and works particularly well as a micro-green. Resistance Makes the Difference Resistance Makes the Difference logo represents herb and arugula varieties bred for quality traits such as disease resistance and cold tolerance. HR: High resistance I IR: Intermediate resistance I T: Tolerance For explanation of codes of resistances, see page 47-49. 45

Index Resistance Makes the Difference Cooking is hot, and fresh herbs are part of that trend. In the Western World the demand for live herbs in pots, clamshells and fresh cut bunches has been steadily increasing for many years now. No surprise there, because what could be easier and more satisfying than snipping a fresh bouquet garnish on your own window ledge, balcony or patio? Vitalis supports this development by offering both growers and end users herb varieties that are less susceptible to diseases and have extended shelflife. Focus on resistance Around ten years ago we tightened the breeding objectives of several herb varieties to gear them more to the needs of our customers and end users. They want plants with good resistance and year-round homogeneous, reliable production. Therefore, we now actively focus on resistance and quality traits breeding by selecting and crossing specific genetic characteristics that make the plants resistant or less susceptible to common diseases with extended shelf life. Important in the breeding process are resistances to the most common fungal diseases and tolerance of low temperatures in parts of the supply chain. And year-round production and supply are an absolute must for the large, specialist commercial nurseries. Successful varieties The focus on genetic resistance and extended shelf life has had the desired effect. In 2016, we officially launched our first Downy Mildew intermediate resistant basil variety on the market with overwhelming success, ‘Eleonora’. Since then, we released another Downy Mildew intermediate resistant basil variety targeted explicitly for hydroponic production, ‘Emma’. We also commercialized the basil variety ‘Elidia’ that is resistant to Fusarium, which can cause root rot. Elidia also produces high yields of large leaves and excellent field standability. For hydroponic growers seeking a variety that has improved tolerance to cold in the supply chain, we offer ‘Keira’ basil. Simultaneously, we have introduced parsley varieties with intermediate resistance to Downy Mildew: a large flat-leaf parsley variety with high yields, thick long stems, and a brilliant glossy green color ‘Peione’, and a dark curly very uniform parsley variety ‘Wega’ – perfect for pots or bunch. Second generation We refer to them as the herb varieties of the ‘second generation’: varieties that have an attractive color and good flavor, and at the same time ensure more reliable cultivation, and better shelf life keeping a quality product at the end consumers’ homes. They are ‘so to speak’ a bit more forgiving in conditions that are not ideal, which can happen in the sales channel and consumers’ homes. Quality mark In the coming years we will continue to steadily expand our range of resistant and tolerant herb varieties for sale in pots, clamshell and bunch. To indicate these second generation herb varieties we developed a quality mark, called ‘Resistance Makes the Difference’. With this quality mark we can indicate these varieties to our customers. In that way they know immediately, which varieties have the special characteristics that will enhance their production and consumption experience. 46

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