Vegetable production

The purpose of this project was to obtain and evaluate varieties of cauliflower for summer harvest. The major desired quality is heat tolerance: the ability to withstand high temperatures without ricing and to maintain the high curd quality typical of autumn-harvested cauliflower. A second desired quality is long wrapper leaves for self-blanching.

This trial included several sweet or bell pepper varieties which have been grown in the Valley for several years, new releases from seed companies, new hot pepper lines from the New Mexico State University breeding program, and a few common hot pepper types. Of the 32 varieties tested, 7 were hot or chile types, the remainder bell or other sweet peppers. Qualities desired are earliness, good yield potential, large and attractive fruit, and strong growth habit with good fruit cover.

Methods

The purpose of these experiments was to evaluate the performance of several Japanese, French, and American onion varieties in overwintering trials. Willamette Valley growers need to improve their competitive position in onion production. One possible method is to overwinter plants for late spring or early summer harvest. The major needs are to find varieties which are sufficiently winter hardy and which resist bolting, and to determine the correct planting time. Weed and disease control also poses problems.

Methods

Twelve lines of cauliflower were direct-seeded on July 13, 1977, with the purpose of overwintering several European cultivars for spring harvest. In addition some other lines were included for comparison. Lines or varieties were as follows: M1, M2, M3, and M4 from Moran Seed Co., Snow Crown from Harris Seed Co., Armado April, Armado May, Armado Quick, Armado Tardo, June, and Markanta Walcherin from Elsoms Seeds Ltd., and Pinnacle from Asmer Seed Co. Plot size was 24 row feet containing about 25 plants.

Methods

In 1971, the North Willamette Agricultural Experiment Station obtained several selections from the forcing rhubarb varieties Victoria and German Wine from Washington State University as well as the variety Crimson and several breeding lines from Oregon State University, Corvallis, for a total of 24 lines. All lines were propagated by crown division and five plants of each maintained until 1977. Based on previous observation at WSU and OSU and field observations of vigor and quality at the North Willamette Station, 18 lines were selected in January 1978 for further observation.

Poor stand establishment is often a limiting factor in vegetable production in the Willamette Valley. Carrots, onions, and lettuce, in particular, often fail to emerge because of soil crusting. Most small-seeded crops lack the vigor necessary to emerge when resisted by significant soil impedance. A high degree of impedance or crusting (also known as soil mechanical resistance) is caused by breakdown of soil particle aggregates. Several treatments exist which may reduce the breakdown of aggregates.

Vegetable yields are, within limits, proportional to the initial stand establishment of the crop, i.e. the percentage of seed which successfully germinates, emerges, and commences sunlight-dependent growth. Improvements in stands should increase yields, reduce thinning labor, and may reduce variability in produce size and maturity at harvest. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of soil pH and type (neutral, basic, acid-forming) of N fertilizer on stand establishment of several small-seeded vegetables.

Soil and plant samples taken from 90 sweet corn fields in the Willamette Valley during 1978 showed low Cu and B levels but responses to applied Cu and B in commercial fields have been inconsistent. Yields and maturity dates of sweet corn in the Willamette Valley are known to respond to banding P fertilizer at planting. The yield response to various rates of banded P in the presence of high P soil test is unknown. High rates of P and Cu may be antagonistic.

These experiments in 1979 were a continuation of a series begun in the 1977 growing season and repeated in 1978. Bush beans, lettuce, and carrots were again the crops used to determine the effects of soil pH and N fertility level on vegetable yield. In 1979, new plots were established with lime rates of 0, 2, 4, and 6 tons/acre. This produced a narrower range of pH (5.0 to 5.8) than was present in the 1977 and 1978 experiments (4.9 to 6.6).

Methods