2020 Vegetable Variety Trials

The results of the 2020 Vegetable Variety Trials are in

In Fairbanks, there were 118 frost-free days (between May 18 and Sept. 11), and although the season started off warm, temperatures for most of the summer were generally cool with greater than average precipitation.

Beans, corn and carrots were grown in replicated trials, while beets, fennel, spinach and winter squash were grown in preliminary trials. Here are the results (greatly simplified) for each crop, according to Glenna Gannon, assistant professor of Sustainable Food Systems.

Beans

Despite the amount of rain in summer 2020, beans performed similarly to previous years. The highest yielding variety was Bountiful, followed by Contender, Rocdor and Provider. In taste tests, Jumbo, Rocdor and Contender fared best.

Carrots

Carrots in general did not fare well in 2020, either due to the wetness of the season or the soil in their new trial location. Half the harvested carrots were deemed unmarketable due to size or legginess. With that in mind, two varieties: Hercules and Eskimo outperformed the others in marketable yield. Napoli, Romance and Bolero scored highest for taste.

Corn

Corn is generally considered a warm-weather crop, however the 118 frost-free days in 2020 was enough time for all the trialed varieties to produce mature ears when planted in IRT plastic mulch. The wet, cool weather delayed maturity by about a week. Some varieties were started indoors, others were direct-seeded under plastic at the same time the others were transplanted outside. Many of the direct-seeded varieties also produced mature ears. More trials are expected on the viability of direct-seeding.

For the full results of these trials and others, see: Gannon's report.