Evaluation of Sweet Pepper Varieties 2013

University of Maine, Highmoor Farm, 2013
Mark Hutton, Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Science and University of Maine Cooperative Extension
David Handley, University of Maine Cooperative Extension


Sweet peppers are an important crop for many mixed vegetable growers who sell direct to end consumers or through regional wholesale accounts in Maine. Open field production of sweet peppers in Maine is challenging due to the short and highly variable growing season. Previous sweet pepper trials in Maine from 2005-2008 identified few cultivars with commercially acceptable yields. Results from the 2013 trial appear to indicate that many of the new cultivars have much better potential for Maine.

Twenty bell pepper and three small snack size cultivars were evaluated. Plants were started in the greenhouse on April 25 and then transplanted into the field on 6/10 and 6/11. Three plots of each variety were planted in a randomized complete block design. Each plot consisted of 20 plants planted in double rows at 18 inches within row spacing. The plants were planted into black plastic covered 42-inch-wide beds spaced six feet on center. Prior to forming the beds, the field was fertilized with 10-10-10 at 500lb/acre. The plants also received 1 cup of starter solution at transplanting. Supplemental fertigation was provided on 7/19 (20 lbs N / acre), 8/6 (20 lbs N / acre), and 8/20 (5 lbs N / acre). No sprays were made to manage insect or diseases. Weeds were managed by cultivation.

Table 1. Pepper cultivars evaluated at Highmoor Farm, Monmouth Maine, in 2013.
Cultivar Supplier
Aristotle Seedway, Harris Seeds, Siegers Seeds, Rupps Seeds
Currier Harris Seeds,
Islamorada Seedway,
Karisma Harris Seeds, Seedway
Karma Harris Seeds
New Ace Harris Seeds
Revolution Harris Seeds
Sprinter Harris Seeds
Vanguard Seedway, Harris Seeds
Currier Seedway, Harris Seeds
SQ 6517 Seedway
Early Excursion Siegers Seeds, Abbott and Cobb Seeds
Early Summer Seedway
Rampart Seedway
Bastille Seedway
Abay Seedway
FPP1814 Seedway
SV 3964 Seedway
296 ACR Siegers
297 ACR Siegers
298 ACX Siegers
Cupid Johnny’s Select Seeds
Lunch Box Johnny’s Select Seeds
Yummy Mix Seedway

Harvest dates in 2013 were August 7, 15, 20, 22, 27, September 4, 14, 17, 25, and October 2. The center 16 plants of each bed were harvested for data collection; the first and last pair of plants in each plot served as guard plants. Number of fruit and fruit weight were recorded for each plot. Fruit length, width, and wall thickness were determined from 10 randomly selected fruit of each variety harvested on August 15 and September 4. Plot yields were summed over all harvests prior to data analysis. There was a uniformly distributed infection of white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) across the field. The number of infected plants in each plot was counted and the percent infection for each plot was computed for each plot.

Weather summary for the 2013 growing season is presented in Table 2. Rainfall was consistent through the season with occasional periods of heavy rainfall resulting in standing water between the plant beds. The standing water and the previous sunflower crop may have contributed to the great incidence of white mold observed.

Table 2. Monthly rainfall and average daily temperatures at Highmoor Farm, Monmouth, Maine, for the 2013 growing season.
May June July August September
Rainfall (in.) 6.26 7.8 5.51 6.32 8.64
Daily Average Temp (F) 54 64 71 66 58

The cultivars evaluated in 2013 produced acceptable yields of marketable fruit, though Abay, Early Summer, and Sprinter were just barely acceptable. Karma, Currier, Islamorada, Karisma, and Bastille were among the better performers for marketable yield and fruit size. Six cultivars: New Ace, SQ 3517, Bastille, Islamorada, Aristotle, and Currier were reasonably early, achieving over 40% of total yield by September 1. Two cultivars, Sprinter and 296 ACR, produced less than 30% of their total yield by September 1 and may be too late for most Maine direct markets. Additionally, Sprinter had the lowest yield of the cultivars evaluated. Most of the peppers harvested in 2013 would have been graded as large (3×3 inches) in size with few extra large or jumbo fruit produced.

Three small-fruited peppers were included in this trial: Cupid, Lunch Box Mix, and Yummy Mix. Cupid is a red mini-bell pepper, while Lunch Box and Yummy are mixes of small slightly tapered red, yellow, and orange fruit. These cultivars are very productive, producing 24 to 34 fruit per plant. Harvesting these plants does require significant time and effort. These cultivars can be marketed loose by the fruit or weight or in pint or quart boxes or clam shells. A pint box holds approximately 1/2 pound of Yummy or Lunch Box; while, a quart box holds about one pound.

White mold infection ranged from below 10% infected plants (New Ace, 1.3%; Cupid, 1.3%; Lunch Box, 5.5%; Karisma, 5.6%; Revolution, 6.7%; Yummy, 7.1%) to greater than 30% (297 ACR, 35%; Rampart, 36.7%). However, there was no significant correlation between white mold infection and yield. The infection came at the end of the harvest period and thus had little impact on total yield.

Table 3. Marketable Harvest of Bell Peppers Grown at Highmoor Farm, Monmouth Maine during the 2013 Seasonz.
Mean Values per Plot Mean Values per 20 Fruit
Cultivar Number of Fruit Marketable Weight (lb) Estimated Boxes per Acre Percent Early Harvesty White Mold Infection % 4 Lobe Fruit % Weight (oz) Length (in) Width (in) Wall Thickness (in)
Bells
Karma 176.0 64.6 1395 32.4 10.4 50.8 5.9 3.89 2.87 0.26
FPP1814 152.0 60.9 1315 38.0 23.3 42.1 6.4 3.47 2.84 0.29
Currier 149.7 58.7 1267 40.6 10.0 54.5 6.3 3.56 2.78 0.27
297 ACR 145.3 57.7 1246 33.6 35.0 52.3 6.3 3.45 3.02 0.29
Islamorada 141.3 57.3 1239 42.5 11.7 63.4 6.5 3.48 2.91 0.26
SQ 6517 145.0 54.9 1186 46.6 25.8 52.6 6.1 3.67 2.93 0.25
Karisma 130.3 53.0 1145 36.3 5.6 66.2 6.5 3.57 2.98 0.30
Bastille 126.3 52.9 1143 43.6 10.4 53.9 6.7 3.27 3.31 0.30
296 ACR 126.7 52.0 1123 24.8 20.9 58.3 6.6 3.29 3.04 0.27
298 ACX 135.7 51.9 1122 31.3 18.7 45.9 6.1 3.37 2.80 0.31
Aristotle 132.7 51.2 1107 41.6 10.4 45.3 6.2 3.38 2.99 0.27
Vanguard 123.0 50.4 1089 37.7 19.1 48.7 6.6 3.66 2.94 0.28
New Ace 178.3 48.9 1056 47.2 1.3 26.2 4.4 4.12 2.05 0.21
SV 3964 128.7 48.7 1052 34.4 20.2 47.1 6.1 3.76 2.92 0.26
Early Excursion 131.0 48.2 1041 34.0 14.2 48.1 5.9 3.60 2.91 0.28
Revolution 119.3 47.2 1019 37.6 6.7 54.3 6.3 3.31 3.27 0.26
Rampart 119.7 47.1 1019 37.0 36.7 44.2 6.3 3.46 2.75 0.24
Abay 110.7 42.9 928 37.0 13.9 46.8 6.2 3.33 3.10 0.27
Early Summer 108.7 39.6 857 34.1 16.9 26.5 5.8 3.29 2.76 0.28
Sprinter 115.0 36.6 790 21.1 18.5 50.0 5.1 3.32 2.47 0.27
Tukey’s HSD 0.05x 88.0 35.3 19.2 33.1 16.3 0.50 0.02 0.04 ns
Small-Fruited
Cupid 542.7 40.1 1.3
Yummy Mix 443.0 16.6 7.1
Lunch Box 392.7 14.1 5.5

z Values are averages of three, 20 plant plots. The plastic mulched beds had double row plots with plants spaced 18” within rows and rows approximately 18” apart. Beds were 6’ on center.
y Early harvest was considered to be fruit harvested before September 1.
x Values in columns above the Tukey’s HSD value must be greater than this to be considered significantly different.


Figure 1. Karma: Large fruit; good color; shape can be variable; strong spreading plant.

Peppers: Karma


Figure 2. Currier: Fairly large, blocky, smooth fruit; attractive mature red; strong spreading plant slight amount of lodging.

Peppers: Currier


Figure 3. Islamorada: Dark green deep lobed, block fruit; fair mature color; strong medium to large plant.

Peppers: Islamorada


Figure 4. Bastille: Medium green blocky fruit; high shoulders, strong plant slightly prone to lodge.

Peppers: Bastille


Figure 5. Aristotle: Medium size blocky fruit; good mature color; upright plant.

Peppers: Aristotle


Figure 6. Vanguard: Fruit can be rough with poor shapes; tall shoulders; erect medium size plants.

Peppers: Vanguard


Figure 7. New Ace: Rough, variable shaped fruit; nice mature color.

Peppers: New Ace


Figure 8. Early Excursion: Small blocky, smooth fruit; very attractive mature color; medium to large spreading plant; can have poor foliage cover.

Peppers: Early Excursion


Figure 9. Sprinter: small medium green fruit; good mature color; weak open plant.

Peppers: Sprinter


Figure 10. FPP1814: Medium green, smooth, blocky fruit; attractive mature red; strong plant but may be prone to lodge.

Peppers: FPP1814


Figure 11. 298 ACX: Smooth blocky fruit, good color, shape slightly variable; mature color not too uniform; tall vase shape plant prong to lodge.

Peppers: 298ACX


Figure 12. Revolution: Large, blocky fruit; non-uniform mature color.

Peppers: Revolution


Figure 13. Rampart: Blocky fruit, medium to pale green color; some silvering; non-uniform mature color; strong plant little to no lodging.

Peppers: Rampart


Figure 14. Abay: Good size fruit, good green color; non-uniform mature color; questionable shelf life of mature fruit.

Peppers: Abay


Figure 15. 297 ACR: Dark green blocky fruit; mature red color not great.

Peppers: 297 ACR


Figure 16. Early Summer: dark green fruit; slightly rough skin; strong plant.

Peppers: Early Summer


Figure 17. SQ 6517: Fruit shape somewhat variable, good color, long stem; plant is variable.

Peppers: SQ 6517


Figure 18. SV 3964: Dark green blocky fruit, attractive.

Peppers: SV 3964


Figure 19. 296 ACR: Color slightly variable; blocky, smooth fruit; tall erect plant.

Peppers: 296 ACR


Figure 20. Cupid; Lunch Box; Yummy Mix

Peppers: Cupid; Lunch Box; Yummy Mix


Figure 21. Marketing snack peppers: 1 pound quarts (top), 1/2 pound pints (bottom).

Peppers in quart and pint boxes

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