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THECOMMERCIAL GREENHOUSEGROWER • MARCH 2018
CUCUM"ERS •
continue todrive the sector forward. ¸Abbey View is an
observer of theEuropean-fundedBioboost project and
as such, aremonitoringmany technological advances.
However currently, there are very fewproviding stand
alonebenefits that warrant the investment and a
combined approach is proving too costly. I believewe are
on the verge of the next advancements through the use of
the technologieswhich are currently beingdeveloped.¹
Elsewhere, SarahMayne, AccountManager andCrops
Specialist at RijkZwaan says the trend for new and
different varieties of cucumbers, such as thepopular
snacking types and themidi ranges, will continue. ¸The
supermarkets are increasing the amount of snacking
products ingeneral and cucumbers are an important part
of that. The snack varieties areproving very popular and
themidi’s areproviding excellent alternatives toportioned
products andobviously the siae helps answer shelf-life
issues.¹ RijkZwaan’s snacking varieties include8uarto,
a strong andopen varietywith excellent Åavour. It is also
suitable for high-wire cropping. 8uinton, is also apopular
snacking variety, which is awhite colour andperfect for
snack ormixedpackaging.
RijkZwaanhas alsodeveloped several midi andmini
varieties. Of themini’s bothPicowell andBonwell impress
as doesMedia from themidi range. The company has
alsodeveloped aChinese style varietywhich has higher
drymatter and is ideal for stir fry cooking.
The standard first crop long cucumber variety thatmost
growers havebeenworkingwith for a long-time isProloog
which still proves tobe themost popular variety despite
trials to find something similar. The new standard long
variety, ideal for second and third crops is Lausanna,
which is being trailed for highwireproductionwithgood
results so far.
RijkZwaan also has a range ofMosaic-virus resitant
RijkZwaan has developed
aChinese style variety
which has higher dry
matter and is ideal for
stir fry cooking.
movement in cucumber
crop cycleswith a greater
number of growers
switching from three to
two crops inorder to avoid
higher energy costs at
the start of the season.
Some trials of highwire
growinghave continued
and some growers are
reviewing their options of
renewable energy sources.
During 2018we are seeing
LED lighting trials on
peppers and cucumbers.
The net worthof these
projects awaits tobe seen.
Greater benefits are also
being seen through slight
modernisationof growing techniques as the LeaValley
takes a hybrid tradition and ‘NewGenerationGrowing’
approach to cropmanagement.¹
He also thinks highwire growing is likely tobecome
more significant in the future. ¸I think highwire growing is
the future of any newbuild cucumber nurseries as it can
produce extra yield andwith the correct facilities the extra
yield canprovide anoverall netmonetary benefit to the
grower. However, if you compare amodernnursery to an
established traditional three cropgrower, net returns per
squaremeter canbe very similar, indicating it ismaybe
more about the skill of the grower getting themost out of
the cost factors and facilities available to them rather than
theproductionmethods used.¹
Mr Hibberdbelieves that increased interest in nutrition
andhealthwill be one of the trends that will continue
andhelp the sector. ¸Snacking and convenience are
key drivers for consumers, however focus for ‘everyday’
products is still cost and currently the cost of production
to snacking varieties is at or above those of conventional
which is prohibitive unless an additional benefit such as
Åavour or nutrition is added,¹ he says.
Mr Hibberd also thinks technology and innovationwill
The new standard long
variety Lausanna.
