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Department of Plant Sciences

2019 VEGETABLE GARDEN VARIETY TRIAL REPORT — KNOXVILLE LOCATION

December 2019 Natalie Bumgarner, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

Department of Plant Sciences

Vegetable gardening in Tennessee is a popular activity, and many residents grow food for consumption and enjoyment. With many older heirloom as well as hybrid cultivars on the market, there is a wealth of planting options available to home gardeners. Currently, many novel and/or disease resistant cultivars are being introduced, but their quality for the home gardener is not well known. A lack of trial data limits the ability of gardeners to select new or older cultivars known to perform well in Tennessee. Therefore, these trials were undertaken to support home gardeners in selecting the best crops and cultivars for their gardens.

How the Trial Was Done Growing Transplants and Site Preparations Transplanted crops were started in a glass greenhouse on a mist bench on the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) campus. At the appearance of true leaves, seedlings were transplanted to 36-count, deep cell trays and moved to a plastic greenhouse. Peppers were seeded on March 3 and transplanted on March 23. Tomatoes were seeded on March 17 and transplanted on April 5. Prior to transplanting in the field, plants were hardened off in a shaded cold frame or outdoors on the campus. Trial plots were located at the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center Organic Crops Unit in plot L, which is a non-certified plot that allows for the use of conventional management practices. Soil tests were taken by center personnel and fertilization was applied according to soil tests results prior to plot establishment. The study area consisted of 10, 175-foot-long, black plastic, drip irrigated rows with spacing indicated in the chart on page 2. All cultivars were replicated twice to provide variance estimates as described on the following page.

Young pepper transplants in 2019 Knoxville trials. They were grown on plastic mulch with irrigation. All sprays and other management tasks were carried out as would be done in the home garden.

2019 Vegetable Garden Variety Trial Report — Knoxville Location

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Crop management No herbicides were used in the plot. Weed pressure was minimized by the use of plastic mulch in the planting rows and wheat straw in the aisles. Disease pressure was minimized by applications of labeled fungicides (Daconil, Mancozeb) to control Alternaria, Septoria and powdery mildew. Applications of Bacillus thuringiensis were used to address yellow striped armyworms and tobacco hornworms. Sevin (zeta-cypermethrin) was used to address cucumber beetles on the cucurbits only, while neem oil and horticultural oil (peppers only) were used to address broad mites. Fertigation with soluble (20-10-20) fertilizer was provided approximately weekly during the growing season. Irrigation was delivered when plots became dry with at least 1 inch of water provided weekly as a target.

Crop and number of cultivars trialed

Date seeded (S) or transplanted (T)

Row spacing Plant spacing in row

Plants per plot

First harvest

Last harvest

Pepper May 8,9 (T) 5 ft 2 ft 4 June 20 Sept. 27 Tomato May 8,9 (T) 5 ft 2 ft determinate,

3 ft indeterminate 4 July 9 Sept. 1

Beans May 10 (S) 4 ft 3in ~50 July 4 July 31 Cucumber May 17 (S) 5 ft 1 ft 8 June 26 Summer squash/ Zucchini

May 17 (S) 5 ft 2 ft 5 June 20 August 7

Pumpkin/ Winter squash

May 17 (S) 8 ft 3 ft 5 August 10 August 23

Muskmelon May 17 (S) 5 ft 2 ft 5 July 26 August 20 Watermelon May 17 (S) 8 ft 2 ft 5 July 26 August 10

Data collection and analysis Yield was collected throughout the season for fruiting crops. All fruit per plot were counted and weighed at each harvest. Useable fruit were counted and weighed and unusable fruit were counted and discarded. Sorting was done with the home gardener in mind. Data presented below are useable fruit that may have minor surface blemishes or small cracks, but do not have damage or decay that would prevent the use of the whole fruit. All data was gathered by plot and then averaged for each cultivar. Standard error was also calculated.

Overview of Season and Pest Issues Summer conditions in 2019 were relatively moist and moderately warm in the early part of the season. The later part of summer was hot and dry, so irrigation was used consistently, and heat stress likely impacted fruit set in several crops. Weed pressure was consistent but well managed with straw mulch and targeted hand weeding until late in the season. Leaf diseases in the tomatoes were relatively well controlled with preventative sprays for much of the season, although early blight (Alternaria solani) was present. Powdery mildew was present in the summer squash and pumpkins, but it was not a large factor. Cucumbers did show downy mildew pressure and some leaf loss and decline, but they still had a production season. Insect and mite pests were likely more detrimental to yields than leaf diseases. Biological insecticide applications managed damage from yellow-striped armyworms and tobacco hornworms in most plots. Squash bugs and striped and spotted cucumber beetles produced some feeding damage in the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin crops. Early season insecticide sprays reduced the impact of bacterial wilt but more wilt was seen as the season progressed. The most damaging pest of the season was actually broad mites on the peppers. These mites produced damage from feeding on

2019 Vegetable Garden Variety Trial Report — Knoxville Location

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several plants and young fruit. Sprays of horticultural oil were begun in late June. Mites were reasonably well controlled, but they likely did cause yield loss due to early season plant damage.

Trial Results — Direct Seeded Crops Crop Cultivar Disease

resistances Wt./plot (lb)

Germ % 14 d

Cull %

Comments

Cucumber Bush Crop 60.3±12.8 63% 2% 8 oz fruit, compact plant, open pollinated heirloom Cucumber Spacemaster CMV, S 70.7±2.8 88% 7% 8 oz fruit, compact plant, open pollinated Cucumber Patio

Snacker 83.5±22.3 91% 1% F1, Prolific 7 oz fruit on compact plant

Cucumber Bristol A, ALS,CMV, S, DM, ZYMV, PM, PRSV

64.5±1.1 72% 3% F1, deep green, 8 oz fruit

Cucumber Marketmore 76

S, CMV, PM 67.0±8.4 84% 1% Open pollinated, deep green 9 oz fruit

Cucumber Suyo Long 64.3±11.9 81% 5% Long, spiny, twisted 11 oz fruit, open pollinated

Cucumber Itachi 66.2±7.2 81% 7% F1, medium long, white cucumber, 9 oz fruit Cucumber Cool

Customer 72.3±22.9 81% 7% 7 oz fruit, large pickler, open pollinated, rapid

growth led to higher cull of oversize Cucumber H-19 Little

Leaf A, ALS, B, S, CMV, PM

51.8±12.9 81% 1% Smaller pickling fruit, open pollinated, parthenocarpic, very small leaves, easy to see fruit

Su. squash Easy Pick Gold II

PRV, WMV, ZYMV

27.1±3.9 90% 6% F1, yellow zucchini with green ends, parthenocarpic, harder to miss fruit

Su. Squash Golden Star 50.0±15.8 100% 5% F1, yellow zucchini, compact plant Su. Squash Pantheon 43.7±0.5 95% 1% F1, dark and light green striped zucchini with

ridges (costata type), parthenocarpic Su. Squash Easy Pick

Green 38.0±4.9 60% 14% F1, green zucchini, parthenocarpic, oversize fruit

missed led to cull % Su. Squash Tempest 85.6±0.6 100% 3% F1, yellow squash, slight rib with dark yellow, long

season Su. Squash Zephyr 70.1±26.3 55% 6% F1, yellow squash with green tip, long season,

uneven germ led to large SE Su. Squash Juane et

verte 38.5±9.8 75% 0% Heirloom green patty pan squash

Su. Squash Sunburst 50.5±16.6 55% 5% F1, yellow patty pan with green tip, AAS Su. Squash Desi 41.6±5.7 65% 5% Small light green round squash, compact plant,

early, heirloom Su. Squash Lemon 59.0±0.8 80% 1% Small bright yellow squash, heirloom, long harvest

season W. squash Honeynut 38.7±3.6 70% 4% Open pollinated, small butternut W. squash Butterscotch PM 19.5±9.4 35% 0% F1, compact small butternut, AAS, lower yield due

to germ issues W. squash Honey Bear PM 16.7±2.5 70% 2% F1, Small dark green acorn squash, AAS W. squash Starry Night PM 35.6±4.3 missing 0% F1, larger acorn, white flecks, bush habit

2019 Vegetable Garden Variety Trial Report — Knoxville Location

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CMV= cucumber mosaic virus, S= scab, A= anthracnose, ALS= angular leaf spot, ZYMV=zucchini yellow mosaic virus, DM= downy mildew, PM= powdery mildew, PRSV=papaya ringspot mosaic virus, WMV=watermelon mosaic virus, B=bacterial wilt

Trial Results — Transplanted Crops Crop Cultivar Disease

resistances Wt./plant (lb)

Fruit #/plant

Cull %

Comments

Bell pepper Alliance BLS, PVY,PYMV, TMV, PMV

4.2±0.9 14 21% F1, medium sized fruit, green to red, 4.8 oz fruit

Bell pepper Goliath 3.9±0.6 16 19% F1, green to red, 4.0 oz fruit Bell pepper Keystone Res.

Giant 2.8±0.3 11 20% Older open pollinated, green to red,

4.2 oz fruit Bell pepper King Arthur BLS, PVY 5.2±1.2 21 14% F1, red to green, 3.9 oz fruit Bell pepper Mecate BLS, TMV,

PMMV, PMV 4.4±0.8 15 14% F1, green to yellow, 4.8 oz fruit

Bell pepper Orange Blaze BLS, TMV 4.0±0.1 28 15% F1, smaller 2.3 oz fruit, green to orange, AAS

Bell pepper Playmaker BLS, P, TMV 4.3±0.1 15 13% F1, green to red 4.5 oz fruit Bell pepper Revolution BLS, P, CMV 5.5±0.2 19 17% F1, green to red 4.6 oz fruit, robust plant

from seedling onward Bell pepper Summer Sweet BLS, TMB,

PVY 3.2±1.4 12 30% F1, green to red 4.2 oz fruit

Sweet pepper

Carmen 4.3±0.2 25 18% F1, AAS, green to red Italian roasting pepper with 2.5 oz fruit, blossom end rot led to higher cull %

Sweet pepper

Cornito Giallo 3.8±0.5 13 8% F1, AAS, green to dark yellow, 1.7 oz fruit

Sweet pepper

Cubanelle 2.5±1.0 12 12% Open pollinated, hit hard by mite issues

Sweet pepper

Giant Marconi 5.9±0.1 13 11% F1, large 3.7 oz green to red fruit, AAS

Sweet pepper

Jimmy Nardellos

2.7±0.4 19 8% Small, thin, tapered <1 oz fruit, thin walled

Sweet pepper

Nassau BLS 3.0±1.4 7 6% F1, cubanelle type, 1.9 oz fruit, but mite issues were present

Sweet pepper

Oranos PMV 2.9±0.2 13 9% F1, thin wall, deep orange, 1.4 oz fruit

Sweet pepper

Sweet Sunset BLS 4.5±0.1 11 6% F1, AAS, lt. green to orange to red 1.2 oz fruit, hit hard by mite issue

Hot pepper Emerald Fire BLS 6.8±0.9 107 2% F1, largest fruit in jalapeno trial, 1.0 oz average all season, AAS

Hot pepper El Jefe BLS, PVY, TEV

6.2±0.1 135 1% F1, 0.75 oz fruit, but more per plant

Hot pepper Mucho Nacho PVY, TEV 6.0±0.2 118 1% 0.8 oz fruit Hot pepper NuMex

Lemon Spice 1.9±0.2 44 7% Compact plant, bright yellow color, small

fruit that was 0.7 oz

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Crop Cultivar Disease resistances

Wt./plant (lb)

Fruit #/plant

Cull %

Comments

Hot pepper Tricked You BLS 4.7±0.1 78 4% Heatless jalapeno, 1.0 oz fruit, fewer total than Emerald Fire

Hot pepper Mosquetero 3.6±0.2 42 5% F1, tall plant, medium sized fruit, 1.4 oz Hot pepper Ancho

Magnifico 2.7±0.7 30 6% F1, tall plant, medium sized fruit, 1.4 oz

Det. tomato Bella Rosa V, F, A, St, N, TSWV

13.0±0.1 27 13% F1, large 8 oz red fruit

Det. tomato Betterbush V, F, N 5.1±0.6 12 27% F1, 7 oz red fruit, high cull due to fruit in plant center, compact plant

Tomato Bradley 9.1±0.7 25 19% 6 oz pink fruit, large plant, heirloom Det. tomato Bush

Champion II V, F, A, St, N 9.3±0.2 21 33% F1, 7 oz red fruit, high cull due to fruit in

plant center, compact plant Det. tomato Bush Goliath V, F, N 5.4±0.8 14 28% F1, 6 oz red fruit, high cull due to fruit in

plant center, compact plant Det. tomato Camaro V, F, A,

TYLCV 14.2±1.5 25 17% F1, large 9 oz red fruit, some scalding of

fruit on top of plant Det. tomato Carolina Gold V, F, St 13.0±0.4 28 10% F1, firm gold 6 oz fruit Det. tomato Celebrity V, F, N,

ToMV 16.5±2.0 37 7% F1, good plant size, protected fruit, AAS,

consistent 7 oz red fruit Det. tomato Defiant V, F, N, EB,

LB 13.2±0.2 55 9% F1, smaller 4 oz firm red fruit

Det. tomato Iron Lady V, F, N, EB, LB

14.5±1.5 44 7% F1, Long season, 5 oz firm red fruit

Det. tomato Tasti-Lee F, V 12.0±1.1 28 9% F1, less firm 5 oz red fruit, Ind. tomato Beefmaster V, F, A, St, N,

TSWV 22.2±2.3 24 28% Large 15 oz red fruit

Ind. tomato Big Beef V, F, N, A, TMV, St

22.4±0.01 48 12% F1, firm, consistent 7 oz red fruit, AAS

Ind. tomato Big Brandy 18.0±0.9 24 28% F1, large pink 12 oz pink fruit Ind. tomato Chef's Choice

Pink F, V 20.0±0.6 20 28% F1, very large 16 oz pink fruit, AAS

Ind. tomato Chef's Choice Yellow

22.2±3.2 20 24% F1, very large and prolific 17 oz deep yellow fruit, AAS

Ind. tomato Cherokee Carbon

17.1±2.7 33 18% F1, 8 oz purple fruit

Ind. tomato Cherokee Purple

15.4±0.2 23 27% 10 oz purple fruit, heirloom

Ind. tomato Damsel N, V, LB 17.6±0.6 45 11% F1, prolific 6 oz pink fruit Ind. tomato German

Johnson 12.1±0.6 18 20% 11 oz pink fruit, open pollinated, heirloom

EB= early blight, LB= late blight, BLS= bacterial leaf spot, PVY=potato virus Y, TMV=tobacco mosaic virus, Tomato mosaic virus= ToMV, Pepper mosaic virus= PMV, Pepper mild mottle virus= PMMV, Cucumber mosaic virus= CMV, P= Phytophthora, TEV= tobacco etch virus, Verticillium= V, Fusarium=F, Tomato spotted wilt virus= TSVW, Grey leaf mold= St, Alternaria stem canker= A, Nematode=N, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus= TYLCV

2019 Vegetable Garden Variety Trial Report — Knoxville Location

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