2012 Bell Pepper Variety Trial
Posted: December 2, 2012
Plot size: Double row 24 feet long x 3 feet between rows – 20 plants per rep.
In-row-spacing: 24 inch – staggered row, 18 inches between rows.
Transplanting date: June 11, 2012 (6-week-old plants).
Production system: raised bed (30 inches wide) with 0.45 gal/min./100 ft. drip tape.
Fertility: 100 lbs./A of N-P-K. Additional nitrogen was applied through the drip irrigation – 3 applications of 5 gals/ application of Total Feed 4 (4-0-1). Foliar application of BioForge @ 1.0 pt/A and More Power @ 1.0 pt/A was made on June 14, 2012. Also, a foliar application of Stimulate @ 1.0 pt/A and Ca5X @ 1.0 pt/A was made on June 29, 2012. Root Feed II @ 1.0 pt/A was injected through the drip tape on June 20 and 27, 2012.
Harvest Date: September 7 and 18 plus October 4 and 16, 2012.
Design: Randomized Complete Block with 3 replications.
Pepper Varieties:
0999-5059
PS 1635-1609B
PS 0998-3944A
PS 0998-3964A
Aristotle
0994-1819
Archimedes
Comments:
The weather was very dry and warm in July and August, 2012 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Rock Springs, PA. There was some early plant stress such that the pepper plants were developing very slowly. To help the pepper transplants overcome the stress and resume normal growth and development, the following Stoller USA products were applied to the pepper plants – BioForge, More Power, Stimulate, Ca5X and Root Feed II. Fruit from all varieties were firm at their mature green stage. There were very few red fruit harvested from this trial. Less than 5% of all peppers in the variety trial were non-marketable. All varieties evaluated produced fruit with a quality rating between 4 and 5. Both ‘5059’ and ‘1819’ produced the highest yields in both number of fruit and weight compared to both ‘Aristotle’ and ‘Archimedes’. I have recommended ‘1819’ for the 2013 Mid-Atlantic Vegetable Production Recommendations.
Table 1. The marketable yield of bell pepper varieties grown on the Horticulture Research Farm, Russell E. Larson Research Center, Rock Springs, PA – 2012
| Variety | Total # Fruit/A | Avg. fruit Wt. (oz.) | Yield T/A | # fruit/ plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0999-5059 | 222 | 6.2 | 13.1 | 11.3 |
| PS 1635-1609B | 184.7 | 6 | 10.5 | 9.9 |
| PS 0998-3944A | 191.4 | 6.5 | 11.2 | 9.2 |
| PS 0998-3964A | 191.3 | 5.9 | 10.6 | 11.1 |
| Aristotle | 205.3 | 5.6 | 10.9 | 10.6 |
| 0994-1819 | 224.6 | 6.1 | 13 | 11.2 |
| Archimedes | 192.7 | 5.8 | 10.5 | 9.8 |
Contact Information
- Professor of Vegetable Crops
