Special thanks are given to American Takii Inc., Asgrow Seed Co., California Valley Seeds Inc., Ferry-Morse Seed Co., Harris-Moran Seed Co., Hungnong Seed Co., Petoseed Inc., Rogers Seed Co., Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Seneca Hybrids, Sun Seeds Inc., and Vilmorin Vegetable Seeds for their support of the Specialty Vegetable Trials. Also, our gratitude is given to Joe Santellano, Sunnyside Packing Co., Selma; Scott Davis and Ellen Weber, Champion Seed Co., Fresno; and Rudy and Martha Gutierres, Yosemite Seed Co., Fresno; for their collaboration and guidance in planning the trials.

 

Contents

Introduction Materials and Methods Spring Zucchini Trial, Replicated Spring Yellow Crookneck Trial Summer Squash Observation Trial and Winter Squash Observation Trial Pumpkin Variety Trials Spring Green Bean Trial Summer Squash Fall Trials

Introduction

The vegetable variety trials were designed to provide local producers with the most current information on new variety developments. The primary objective, however, was to let growers, seed companies, and other interested persons view the varieties together in one location. The report is most useful when it is used conjointly with participation in the Kearney Agricultural Center vegetable field days.

Squash, pumpkin, and green bean trials were planted in the spring. Additionally, a late summer squash trial was planted. The spring trial was designed to evaluate quality, high yielding varieties. The fall squash trial was designed to test virus tolerance and virus resistance. The report includes yield data and subjective evaluations of several criterion related to variety description and quality.

Each of the replicated squash trials included mixed types. The zucchini trial included green, yellow, and marrow type varieties. Comparisons should be made between zucchini and zucchini, dark varieties with dark varieties, yellow zucchini with yellow zucchini etc., the replicated yellow crookneck trial scallop types. Similarly, crooks should be compared to crooks and scallops with scallops.

Commercially, squash is planted in late winter (February–March) and late summer (August). Marketable yields for individual varieties may vary significantly by time of planting. Comparisons of the same varieties in both the early and late trials should be made.

As aforementioned, the utilization of the data in the report and participation in field days are critical in selecting varieties. Our trials do have limitations. We have chosen a planting date, plant spacing , nutrition program, harvest method (use of knife vs. no knife) and length of the harvest period. Those chosen parameters inherently favor some varieties. Other factors, out of our control, can influence the performance of some varieties as well. Those factors include, but are not limited to, rain, cool temperatures, overcast, heat, and susceptibility to viruses.

Materials and Methods

Crop:   1. Summer squash including, zucchini, crookneck, straightneck and scallop varieties
            2. Winter squash including, acorn, butternut and kabocha squash
            3. Pumpkins
            4. Green beans

Site Location: Kearney Agricultural Research Center, Parlier, CA

Soil Type: Hanford sandy loam

Plot size: 40" X 30’

Replications: (1) Replicated trials, 4 replications; (2) Observation trials, 2 replications

Planting Date: April 15, 1997

Planting Method: The trial was direct seeded using an Earthway push planter. When the plants reached the two-leaf stage they were thinned.
1. Summer squash, 20 inches
2. Pumpkins, 30 inches
3. Winter squash, 30 inches
4. Green beans, 6-7 plants per row ft.

Weed Management: Squash and pumpkin weed control included a preplant application of Prefar 4E (bensulide) at a rate of 5 lbs. a.i. per acre and a postemergence application of Dacthal W75 (DCPA) at a rate of 6 lbs. a.i. per acre when plants reached the 4-5 leaf stage. The Dacthal was incorporated with sprinklers. Green bean weed control included only the aforementioned Prefar 4E application.

Insect Pest Management: The cucurbit crop was treated once with Asana for squash bug, otherwise there was no other pest pressure. The green bean crop was treated once for lygus bug.

Disease Management: A small percentage of plants showed virus like symptoms in the last week of harvest.

Crop Nutrition: Summer squash plant nutrition included a preplant application of 15-15-15 at a rate of 500 lbs. per acre. In the fourth week after germination fertilization through the drip system was initiated. Calcium nitrate (Ca₂ NO₃) was applied weekly, at a rate of 15 lbs. N per acre, until the initiation of harvest. During harvest the crop received additional applications of N at a rate of 10 lbs. per week. Winter squash, pumpkin, and green bean nutrition was the same except that they only received a total of 120 lbs. N per acre.

Irrigation: Drip irrigation was used. The irrigation schedule was conducted according to the calculated evapotranspiration (ET) values and irrigated daily.

Pollination: Bees were placed next to the cucurbit plot at first bloom.

Harvest Data Collection: The squash was harvested four times per week and harvested for four weeks.

Spring Zucchini Trial, Replicated

Zucchini trial was established to identify spring planted varieties that could be compared to Ambassador, Petoseed Co. Ambassador has been the standard variety for nearly 20 years. Ambassador is high yielding, has a relatively open plant, and is harvested easily. Growers have indicated that Ambassador fruit color varies during the season and becomes too light. Buyers complain of light colored fruit resulting in lower demand and lower prices. The objective of this trial was to identify dark varieties with similar qualities.

(Table1) lists all the varieties that were submitted. The subjective (field observation) description of the color shows that nearly all the varieties were at least as dark as Ambassador. The sheet dated March 22, 1998, Postharvest Evaluations of Summer Squash Varieties, provides an objective color measurement. The measurements were developed using a colorimeter. The colorimeter is an instrument that quantifies colors for accurate comparisons. Comparisons between the color descriptions in the report and the colorimeter ratings should be made.

Marketable yield was based on six picks, including every other pick during the last twelve picks. Yield data indicates that Ambassador was one of the lower producing varieties (Table 2). BN 95055 (Hungnong Seed) and Raven (Rogers Seed) produced the highest yields but had problems with stem end breakage. (Table 3) shows that the percent breakage in the morning (break a.m.) was 41% for BN 95055 and 21.5% for Raven compared to 11% for Ambassador. The afternoon breakage (break p.m.) was even less for Ambassador with 0% breakage. Ambassador is extremely susceptible to viruses and should only be planted in late winter (no later than March 21).

Table 1. Zucchini Variety List and Description
Variety	Seed Co.	Type	Color	Speckling
Gemma	Asgrow	Zucchini	Very dark green	Very fine
112 F-1	Ca. Valley	Lebanese marrow	Light green	Medium
114 F-1	Ca. Valley	Lebanese marrow	Pale green	Medium
155 F-1	Ca. Valley	Zucchini	Dark green	Very fine
BN 95044	Hungnong	Zucchini	Medium green	Medium
BN 95055	Hungnong	Zucchini	Very dark green	Very fine
Golden Gate	Hungnong	Zucchini	Yellow/ orange	None
Counselor	Peto	Zucchini	Dark green	Very fine
Ambassador	Peto	Zucchini	Medium green	Fine
PS 9894	Peto	Zucchini	Medium green	Very fine
Dividend	Rogers	Zucchini	Medium green	Fine
Golden Dawn III	Rogers	Zucchini	Yellow	None
Raven	Rogers	Zucchini	Very dark green	None
Revenue	Rogers	Zucchini	Medium green	Fine
ZS-5	Rogers	Zucchini	Very dark green	Very fine
ZS-7	Rogers	Zucchini	Dark green	Fine
ZS-11	Rogers	Zucchini	Very dark green	Very fine
Excel	Seneca	Zucchini	Dark green	Medium

 

Table 2. Zucchini Yield
Variety	Total Yield	Marketable Yield	% Marketable Yield
	( lbs. / 15 picks )	( lbs. / 6 picks)	( 6 picks )
114 F-1	153.9 a	61.6 a	79
112 F-1	132.6 ab	49.4 ab	78
Excel	126.7 abc	32.6 abcd	51
BN 95055	125.2 abc	47.0 abc	72
Raven	124.8 abc	46.6 abc	78
PS 9894	120.8 abc	30.7 abcd	54
Counselor	115.4 abc	33.1 abcd	52
Revenue	114.4 abc	47.0 abc	88
BN 95044	114.3 abc	35.2 abcd	68
Dividend	112.9 abc	28.9 abcd	61
ZS-7	108.3 abcd	32.6 abcd	66
Golden Gate	108.2 abcd	30.0 abcd	53
155 F-1	107.8 abcd	32.7 abcd	59
ZS-11	104.3 abcd	36.8 abcd	74
Gemma	199.6 abcd	36.8 abcd	69
ZS-5	199.3 abcd	26.3 abcd	59
Ambassador	198.3 abcd	30.8 abcd	60
Golden Dawn	180.8 abcd	33.8 abcd	90
LSD 5%	24.4	15.9
CV	15.1	30.2

 

 

Table 3. Stem End Breakage (40-90 fruit per variety)
Variety	% Break a.m.	% Break p.m.
	( 2 picks)	( 2 picks)
114 F-1	30.9	28.2
112 F-1	21.1	9.8
Excel	24.4	20.0
BN 95055	41.0	27.0
Raven	21.5	10.5
PS 9894	15.5	6.5
Counselor	3.7	3.3
Revenue	24.0	5.7
BN 95044	45.3	6.3
Dividend	29.0	6.5
ZS-7	15.4	5.0
Golden Gate	29.0	25.0
155 F-1	39.0	27.2
ZS-11	15.7	2.6
Gemma	8.2	7.1
ZS-5	13.1	4.0
Ambassador	11.0	0.0
Golden Dawn	29.1	26.6

Spring, Yellow Crookneck Trial

Many crookneck and semi-crookneck varieties are planted in the San Joaquin Valley. The yellow crookneck trial was initiated to evaluate yield potential and compare fruit quality. Ten varieties were evaluated in 1997 (Table 4), including three straightneck, six crookneck and one scallop variety. The three straightneck varieties are precocious and have yellow to cream colored stems. The crooknecks included four green stem varieties and one precocious variety. Although there were statistical differences in total yield, Table 5 indicates that there were no significant differences in marketable yield. Marketable yield was based on six picks, including every other pick during the last twelve picks. PS 42395 was the only scallop variety submitted for replication. No standard was tested against it as we were not aware that it was a scallop variety at planting.


 

Table 4. Yellow Crookneck Variety List
Variety	Seed Company	Type	Color	Stem color
General Patton	Asgrow	Straightneck	Yellow	Yellow
Prelude	Asgrow	Crookneck	Light-yellow	Green
PS 37092	Peto	Crookneck	Yellow	Yellow
PS 42395*	Peto	Scallop	Golden-yellow	Yellow
Enterprise	Rogers	Crookneck	Yellow/ green tint	Green
Fortune	Rogers	Straightneck	Yellow	Yellow
Gentry	Rogers	Crookneck	Light-yellow	Green
Sunbrite	Rogers	Crookneck	Light-yellow	Green
Sunglo	Rogers	Crookneck	Yellow/ green tint	Green
Supreme	Seneca	Straightneck	Yellow	Yellow

 

 

Table 5. Yellow Crookneck Yield
Variety	Total yield	Marketable Yield	% Marketable
	( lbs. / 15 picks )	( lbs. / 6 picks )	( 6 picks )
Gentry	123.5 a	34.8 ns	57
Supreme	112.5 ab	47.3 ns	85
Fortune	111.2 abc	44.8 ns	73
Sunbrite	107.2 abcd	34.9 ns	56
Enterprise	105.0 abcd	31.0 ns	65
General Patton	101.4 abcd	43.3 ns	76
Sunglo	100.5 abcd	31.3 ns	55
Prelude	196.3 abcd	19.7 ns	43
PS 42395	193.8 abcd	39.1 ns	72
PS 37092	192.8 abcd	29.4 ns	74
LSD	15.8	ns
CV	10.5	33.3

The summer squash and winter squash observation trials were developed for the purpose of viewing unique varieties, introducing new plant material for initial comparisons including varieties that local growers, packers and retail seed companies wish look at. The observation trials with only two replications cannot be statistically analyzed. The data collected is primarily for developing general descriptions for each variety. Table 6 includes the list of summer squash varieties and a description of each including squash type, color, speckling (if zucchini) and fruit shape. Table 7 shows yield data and percent steam breakage. Table 8 shows the list of winter squash varieties and brief descriptions. Table 9 shows yield data for the winter squash trial including total weight in pounds, number of fruit per plot, and average weight per fruit.


 

Table 6. Squash Observation Variety List and Fruit Description
Variety	Seed Co.	Type	Color	Speckling	Fruit shape
Meigs	Asgrow	Crookneck	Yellow	n/a	n/a
Senator	Asgrow	Zucchini	Medium green	Medium	Club
111 F-1	Ca. Valley	Lebanese marrow	Pale green	Medium	Club
113 F-1	Ca. Valley	Lebanese marrow	Pale green	Medium	Club
144 F-1	Ca. Valley	Zucchini	Medium green	Medium	Club
HMX 7710	Harris Moran	Crookneck	Yellow	n/a	n/a
HMX 6704	Harris Moran	Zucchini	Medium green	Fine	Club
Golden Rod	Harris Moran	Zucchini	Yellow orange	None	Slight club
Multipik	Harris Moran	Straightneck	Yellow	n/a	n/a
Superpik	Harris Moran	Straightneck	Yellow	n/a	n/a
Supersett	Harris Moran	Crookneck	Yellow	n/a	n/a
Jaguar	Harris Moran	Zucchini	Very dark green	Very fine	Slight club
Elite	Harris Moran	Zucchini	Medium green	Medium	Club
Puma	Harris Moran	Zucchini	Dark green	Very fine	Club
Tigress	Harris Moran	Zucchini	Medium green	Medium	Slight club
PX 43092	Peto	Crookneck	Yellow	n/a	n/a
Butter Scallop	Rogers	Scallop	Yellow	n/a	n/a
Starship	Rogers	Scallop	Dark green	n/a	n/a
Sunburst	Rogers	Scallop	Brite yellow	n/a	n/a
Debutant	Sun Seed	Zucchini	Dark green	Very fine	Club
SRS 9657	Sun Seed	Straightneck	Yellow	n/a	n/a
SRS 9732	Sun Seed	Zucchini	Dark green	Fine	Slight club
Sunex 9703	Sun Seed	Zucchini	Dark green	Very fine	Slight club
Sunex 9602	Sun Seed	Crookneck	Yellow/green tint	n/a	n/a
Monet	Ferry-Morse	Straightneck	Yellow	n/a	n/a
El Greco	Ferry-Morse	Zucchini	Dark green	Very fine	Club
Picasso	Ferry-Morse	Crookneck	Yellow/green tint	n/a	n/a
Rivera	Ferry-Morse	Zucchini	Dark green	Fine	Straight

 
 

 

Table 7. Summer Squash Observation Yield and % Stem Breakage
Variety	Total	% marketable	% Break a.m.
	(15 picks )	( 4 picks )	( 2 picks )
Meigs	91.2	61	14
Senator	102.7	85	81
111 F-1	161.4	87	20
113 F-1	153.9	74	11
144 F-1	102.5	97	42
HMX 7710	82.6	88	23
HMX 6704	138.6	87	32
Golden Rod	96.5	83	19
Multipik	113.7	78	4
Superpik	108.8	82	0
Supersett	80.5	90	2
Jaguar	114.5	84	37
Elite	148.3	70	36
Puma	93.3	81	45
Tigress	149.2	70	31
PX 43092	76.4	68	26
Butter Scallop	84.4	86	19
Starship	110.2	83	12
Sunburst	94.7	25	33
Debutant	125.8	67	18
SRS 9657	103.0	68	0
SRS 9732	120.1	80	29
Sunex 9602	89.7	44	4
Sunex 9703	97.3	77	20
Monet*	25.7	95	0
El Greco*	45.4	100	13
Picasso*	28.5	30	4
Rivera*	39.2	90	8

* Varieties were planted 14 days later.

 

 

Table 8. Winter Squash Variety List
Variety	Seed Co.	Type	Color
TayBelle	Asgrow	Acorn	Dark green
Table King	Ferry-Morse	Acorn	Green
HMX 7735	Harris Moran	Butternut	Light brown
Cream of the Crop	Rogers	Acorn	White
Heart of Gold	Rogers	Acorn	Light brown/green
Table Gold	Rogers	Acorn	Orange
Amber Cup	Seneca	Kabocha	Dark orange
Autumn Cup	Seneca	Kabocha	Dark green

   

 

Table 9. Winter Squash Yield
Variety	Total lbs.	# fruit	lbs. / Fruit
Taybelle	88.8	38.5	2.3
HMX 7735	109.6	63.0	1.7
Cream of the Crop	109.2	47.5	2.3
Heart of Gold	70.9	40.5	1.8
Table Gold	64.6	40.5	1.6
Ambercup	107.1	36.5	2.9
Autumncup	34.1	10.5	3.2
Table King*	0.00	0.0	0.0

*Planted 14 days later, then severely affected by virus.

Pumpkin Variety Trials

The pumpkin trials were established for small acreage farmers who wanted to learn more about pumpkin varieties. Only six varieties were submitted including two varieties for replication and four vari