Agronomy Local seed sources will supply seed but care should be taken to select a cultivar suitable for local conditions and the intended end use. The cultivars listed here are suitable for fresh market production and processing and have been used in Hawke's Bay trials. There is a danger of over sowing, making pricking out time consuming and costly. Precision seeding in cell transplants is, therefore, the most economical way to establish the crop. Direct seeding in the field would require thinning and field germination may be slow.
Emergence can be slow - three to four weeks from sowing to full emergence.
Planting is ideally from mid to late spring. A good soil structure is required with good drainage, preferably a sandy or clay loam. Regular and even water applications will ensure that roots are not hollow. Harvesting can start in early February when roots are small and have most appeal for the fresh market. Frost damage is a problem and mechanical harvesting can be difficult under wet conditions.