Storage assessments of the 2019-2020 Northern Colorado Onion Variety Trials were completed by the team of at Dr. Thaddeus Gourd, Extension Director/Agent (Agriculture); Eric Hammond, Agent (Horticulture); and Cassey Anderson, Master Gardener Coordinator (Horticulture), at the Adams County Extension Office, with results included as files below.
In his remarks to the industry, Dr. Gourd thanked both the seed companies and trial hosts, Bob and R.T. Sakata of Sakata Farms in Brighton.
Dr. Gourd also acknowledged the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association “for its interest in our onion research projects,” noting, “It is our hope that this research provides onion producers in Colorado with information to make educated decisions on variety selection based on environmental and pest conditions experienced here in Northern Colorado.”
The storage assessments were made on Jan. 17, with Robert Sakata, Larry Duell, Antoinette Machado, Cassey Anderson, Heidi Stark, Diane McKnight, Becky Knogge, Chris Ann Freeborn, Christopher Freeborn and Pam Pairan helping in the evaluations of stored onions.
“Assessments performed included storage yield, bulb firmness, scale retention and internal bulb disease. Red intensity of all red onion lines was also evaluated in Table 3,” he said.
For additional information on the assessments, contact Cassey Anderson at 303-637-8103 or cmanderson@adcogov.org. A reminder also that Feb. 24 is the deadline for submittals of seed for the 2020 trials.
Cost of the 2020 variety trials will be $200 per coated seed variety, and raw seed variety cost is $300 per seed variety. The Extension Office asks that you place orders and send at least eight ounces of coated seed no later than Feb. 24, 2020.
“Coated seed is now used to facilitate consistent planting with farm equipment. If you are unable to provide coated seed, a special effort will be made to thin these raw seed plots to compare with the coated varieties,” the Office said in an email. “It is imperative that we receive this seed by Feb. 24… so we can plant when the surrounding fields are planted. Call us if you will be delayed.”
Also, a brief description of any variety that has not been in the trials previously is requested, as well as color and storage capability such as long term, intermediate, or short term for each variety. Send varieties to Cassey Anderson, CSU Cooperative Extension, 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601-8114, and make checks payable to Adams County. Contact Cassey if there are any problems meeting the deadline.
