CN Seeds, the UK-based seed specialist, has announced the commercial launch of Earlistart F1 a new, early sunflower variety that has been developed to help growers extend their seasons and get consistent product on retail shelves quickly.
Ahead of its appearance at the forthcoming Fruit Logistica 2015 trade fair, CN Seeds is launching Earlistart commercially in time for the 2015 season, following successful commercial trials in summer 2014.
Developed with the aim of enabling harvesting sooner then the current norm, Sunflower Earlistart F1 is a new innovation based on the classic variety of sunflower, featuring golden yellow petals surrounding a dark disc.
CN Seeds business development manager, Charles Seddon, said: “Standard sunflower varieties normally bloom 70-80 days after sowing. In contrast, Earlistart can be cut 10-14 days earlier, giving growers more flexibility in terms of cropping programmes.”
“In the early part of the year, growers need crops that are bouncing out of the ground and Earlistart offers just that so is ideal for both protected crop production and the first few weeks of field drilling.”
Already proven in UK trials, Seddon added that Earlistart F1 was also very well suited to production in Mediterranean countries.
CN Seeds will also be trialling two new double flowered varieties of sunflower with growers in the coming season, after promising results in plot trials last summer.