Scottish subsidiary Higgins Gi has developed the variety over the past 10 years from a wilding of the variety Arran Comet.

Pearl is exclusive to he Higgins Group and it is hoped will revolutionise the second early salad market. 'Pearl's yield is exceptionally high,' said Graeme Byers, Higgins Group technical director. 'The recorded output has regularly been over 30 tubers per root: 50-100 per cent more than its main rival varieties.' The implications for growers are for lower seed costs as well as higher yields. And seed rates can also be much lower than those of other salad varieties.

Higgins' new variety offers good eating quality and taste. It is earlier than its main rivals Maris Peer and Carlingford and lifting of commercial crops in Suffolk are due to start within two weeks. As a second early, Pearl can either be loose or set skin.

The group is running a trial in Cornwall and is also looking at continental European trials. 'But the focus will be on the UK for this season,' said Byers. 'Because of its earliness, Pearl represents an opportunity for UK growers to compete with other sources of production.'

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