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NAREI’s kitchen garden tips… The importance of variety selection when planting vegetables
In this week’s column, the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) continues to offer agricultural tips when planting vegetables in your backyard.
There are many varieties of vegetables available in Guyana. Selection of the variety to plant is one of the most important decisions that the vegetable farmers must make. Consideration must be given to the following:
Yield – The variety should have the potential to produce crops at the same time or better yield and quality to those already grown. 
Days to Harvest/Maturity – choose varieties that meet grower or processor requirements based on days to harvest. Resistance to adverse environmental conditions – choose varieties that are resistant to environmental conditions that are likely to be encountered. This includes heat or drought tolerance; resistance to cracking, and wet weather. Successful varieties must perform well under the range of environmental conditions and production practices usually encountered on the individual farm.
Horticultural Quality – Choose varieties that meet grower or processor quality requirements. Quality attributes such as taste, texture, size, shape, colour, uniformity, and amount of defects will often dictate variety selection.
Plant Characteristics – Plant characteristics that may be considered in variety selection include plant form such as bush, upright, or vining; plant height; plant size; location of harvested part on the plant; and ease of harvest.
Disease and Insect Resistance – The most economical and effective means of pest management is through the use of varieties that are resistant or tolerant to diseases including those caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, or nematodes. When all other factors are equal, select a variety with needed disease resistance or tolerance. In some vegetables, such as sweet corn, insect resistant varieties are also available and should be considered where they fit grower requirements.
Market Acceptability – The harvested plant product must have characteristics desired by both the grower and the buyer. Consider the requirements or desires of the consumer, wholesaler, retailer, or processor. Included among these qualities are flavour, size, shape, color, culinary qualities, nutritional quality or processing quality.
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