Hepworth, a new winter bean variety from Senova, has been added to the PGRO Descriptive List 2026, where it joins the company’s market leading winter beans Vincent and Vespa.

Adding to the choice for growers, Hepworth comes on to the list with a yield of 96 and a big seed size of 749g, as well as good standing ability with a score of 7.8 and the best rust resistance on the DL. More data should confirm Hepworth’s position in the market. It is sold out until 2027.

“There will be plenty more seed of Vincent out for 2026, which now sits at the top of the Descriptive List on a yield of 106 after a good year in 2025. It was very popular this season so we anticipate that it will be very sought after, ” explains Hugh Harley of Senova.

Vincent is a pale hilum variety with a seed size of 795g and good all round disease resistance, including a 7 rating for downy mildew, a 6 for chocolate spot and a 4 for rust.

Vespa seed will also be in good supply as it continues its successful run, reports Hugh. “An established variety with a yield of 105 and one of the best chocolate spot ratings on the list of 7, Vespa has become very popular and is expected to sell well again.”

As well as Ninja, other Senova winter bean varieties include Miro, which joined the Descriptive List last year as a shorter and earlier type.

“There is a good selection of winter bean varieties that give growers a range of options to suit particular requirements and mean that the winter bean crop remains part of a sustainable rotation,” he notes. Vincent and Vespa are the top selling varieties and their position is unlikely to be challenged in 2026, he adds.

With spring beans, Senova has both Notilus and Navara, which sit at the top end of the Descriptive List. Last year’s newcomer, Notilus, is the highest yielding on 107 and combines this with a good seed size and high protein content.

Navara is only just behind it, with a yield of 104 and good seed supply, reveals Hugh, who highlights that it offers both good agronomic characteristics and market acceptability.

“It was our first spring bean to be listed for some time and like Notilus, it has produced incredibly consistent high yields over all years of trials.We have been really pleased with the progress that Navara is making in the market.

“As a company, we now have a good presence in spring beans and two varieties that are bound to appeal, given their respective strengths and ability to perform on-farm.”

Senova’s existing yellow pea varieties, Batist and Kameleon, continue to be popular, while its green pea Kactus is also maintaining its position as the company prepares to bring further genetic improvements to the market.



“We have a couple of very promising green pea varieties coming through the system and look forward to sharing more details of them in due course.”