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Title: PEPPERS AND THEIR YIELDS THROUGH THE GROWING SEASON

Author
item Russo, Vincent

Submitted to: Horticulture Industries Show
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2000
Publication Date: 4/1/2000
Citation: RUSSO, V.M. PEPPERS AND THEIR YIELDS THROUGH THE GROWING SEASON. PROCEEDING OF THE 19TH ANNUAL HORTICULTURE INDUSTRIES SHOW. 2000. P. 160-163.

Interpretive Summary: More types of peppers are being used in more ways in the United States. Transplanting windows exist where pepper can be moved to the field with an expectation that a profitable yield would be realized. However, in the South-central Plains temperatures during the middle of the growing season will cause pepper plants to abort flowers and fruit and reduce yield. A standard bell pepper, cv. Jupiter, and nine other bell pepper cultivars were transplanted in mid-June to determine their ability to resist stress from high air temperatures. Four of the cultivars performed like 'Jupiter' and produced about 1 T/acre, the yield expected for plants moved to the field in mid-June. The other five,'Karma F1', 'Bonita F1', 'Sentinel', 'Baron', and 'Wizard' produced, on average 2.5 T/acre. A gross income of about $3000/acre could be expected at this yield level. These, and possibly other, cultivars might be used to provide flexibility for those wishing to use bell peppers to diversify the production base in a sustainable manner for family farms.

Technical Abstract: In the south-central plains bell pepper flowers and fruit are subject to abortion due to high day and night temperatures. Planting windows are employed so that flowers and fruit are not formed during the periods of temperature stress. If peppers could be planted throughout the growing season, with an expectation of a profitable harvest, then producers should be able to improve farm income. A standard bell pepper, cv. Jupiter, and nine other cultivars were transplanted to the field in mid-June so that flower and fruit would be formed during hot summer months. 'Jupiter' and four other cultivars produced, on average, 1 T/acre, which is normal for plants transplanted at that time of year. Five other cultivars, 'Karma F1', 'Bonita F1', 'Sentinel', 'Baron', and 'Wizard' produced, on average 2.5 T/acre, which would return about $3000 gross income/acre. These, and possibly other, cultivars might be used to provide flexibility for growers wishing to use bell peppers to diversify their production base.