A sweet pepper hybrid with large blocky fruit on a vigorous plant

• Uniform blocky fruit, with very thick walls
• Vigorous plant with good canopy, protects against sunburn
• Intermediate resistance to powdery mildew
• Ability to set fruit under varying climatic conditions

Type:

A hybrid sweet pepper turning from dark green to deep red on maturity. Suitable for open field production and cultivation under protection.

Maturity:

Approximately 75 - 80 days to first pick in summer plantings. The period to first pick can vary considerably depending on the season.

Plant Characteristics:

STAR 6657 have a vigorous plant with good leaf cover preventing sun damage to the fruit. Although not essential the hybrid should be trellised to 2 wires to ensure optimal yield and fruit quality.

Fruit Characteristics:

STAR 6657 have an average fruit mass of between 190 - 220 grams. Fruit shape is large blocky, on average 10 cm long and 11 cm wide. Quality of the bull-nosed fruit (3-4 lobes) is very good, with a very smooth and glossy skin. STAR 6657 have thick walls with excellent shelf life even when picked at a deep red colour. STAR 6657 have the ability to set fruit under cool conditions. STAR 6657 have a very high pack out percentage.

Plant Population:

Open Field: The plant height will vary between 80 - 120 cm. A tramline support system of 1 - 2 wires is essential to ensure a higher percentage marketable fruit especially if plants are carrying a heavy fruit load. Plant population should be around 20,000 - 30,000 plants per hectare.
Tunnel Production: Removal of the first flower will improve the plant growth, yield and quality of the fruit. A plant density of 2 plants per square meter is optimal. They should be pruned to 2-3 stems per plant.

Disease Resistance:

HR: Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV strain 0)
IR: Potato Virus Y (Strain 0, 1), Bacterial Leaf Spot (Strain 1, 2, 3), STAR 6657 has been observed to be more resistant to Powdery Mildew than most standards.

Climate Requirements:

Sweet peppers are frost susceptible and can be grown under a certain range of climatic conditions. These conditions can vary from moderate, cool climates to hotter, subtropical regions. It is important to note that even distribution of heat units is a key requirement for optimal production

Features & Benefits:

STAR 6657 is well known in the industry to be adaptable and stable, producing high yields over an extended period of time.