Harris Moran Seed Company recently showcased some of its best commercial and experimental vegetable varieties recently at trials in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Held at the Michigan State University Research Station, the two-day event featured 125 varieties, including 24 experimental up-and-comers, most of which offer impressive disease packages.

Some 100-plus customers from the eastern U.S. and Canada attended the trials to examine the latest in fresh market bean, cabbage, fresh market corn, processing and slicing cucumbers, lettuce, pumpkin, melon, pepper, squash, tomato, and watermelon.

"This has been one of our best years for breeding," said Bob Hamilton, the Harris Moran representative who helped spearhead the trial. "Yield, eating quality, and disease resistance continue to be the goals of our breeders and judging by the trial, they have attained their goals."

Attracting attention was HMX 9646 F1, a blocky bell pepper that yields well and features a broad disease package, resistance to BLS Races and TMV. This variety’s tough enough to withstand continuous picks throughout the season. Fruit are firm and smooth with hard walls.

In squash, HMX 8714 made its debut with dealers. It’s a slim, cylindrical, medium dark green summer squash that grows an open plant with an attractive fruit. It picks easily and holds well in the field.

The next generation of yellow straightneck squash was on display as well in the form of Cougar. This attractive tapered fruit offers added insurance against virus pressure with resistance/tolerance to ZYMV, PSRV. It also resists greening caused by CMV & WMV II.

Another experimental turning heads was HMX 8996, a fresh market bean with rust resistance. This variety matures in 55 days, and develops an attractive long dark glossy pod.

On the commercial end, HM displayed many standouts, including its outstanding line of fresh market corn like Bandit, an 80-day corn that features a beautiful, refined ear; and Morning Star, an 83-day hybrid with a multi-disease resistance. Dealers also eyeballed Ice Queen, a 77-day white supersweet with multiple disease resistance.

In a nearby row, Greensleeves, a slicing cucumber fared well. It features resistance to scab and tolerance to powdery mildew, downy mildew, CMV, and angular leaf spot.

Rounding out the trial was Millennium, a triploid watermelon with tolerance to Anthracnose and moderate tolerance to Fusarium.

Hamilton said dealers walked away from the trials pleased at what they saw.

"Growers will continue to ask for new and different varieties," said Hamilton. "And we’ll continue deliver our best and our brightest."

Company news release
N2957