Asparagus and berry specialist Hargreaves Plants has launched a new white asparagus variety with high yields and good disease tolerance.
Named Vittorio, the early-season variety is comparable to Gijnlim and was unveiled at Fruit Logistica last week.
The company was also promoting a new green asparagus variety, currently known as NJ1021, which is described as very early season and with extremely high yields of Class 1.
On soft fruit, new ever-bearer strawberry variety Malga is seeing increased demand from Spanish growers who trialled it last season.
Meanwhile, managing director Garth Baxter said demand for the popular Malling Centenary strawberry still outstrips supply. “We have almost sold out for next year, and we are even taking orders for the year after. We have sold about 80 per cent of the plants for this year, and probably have about a month until we sell out completely,' he said.
The company, which has three sites in the UK as well as a global network, recently launched a Grow Your Own hanging basket for the consumer market. Named Black Cascade, Baxter said the product is a completely new addition to the market and allows consumers to easily grow blackberries at home.
