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Chapter 13. Pepper Production

Craig Frey, , Johan Desaeger, Gary Vallad, Jawwad Qureshi, andNathan Boyd


Botany and Planting

Bell pepper—Capsicum annuum, Solanaceae

Habanero and Bird’s-eye pepper—Capsicum chinense

Cultivars

Disease Key: R = resistant, IR = intermediate resistance, HR = high resistance, T = Tolerant. Xcv = Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (bacterial leaf spot), TMV = tobacco mosaic virus, PVY = potato virus Y, TSWV = tomato spotted wilt virus, Pc = Phytophthora capsici (Blight), Tm = tobamovirus, TEV = tobacco etch virus, PepMo = pepper mottle virus, and ToM = tomato mosaic virus. Races indicated by their numbers.

Sweet Bell

Antebellum. Green, sweet pepper with earlier setting patterns and more concentrated fruit set, deep-green color, and blocky shape. R to Xcv 1–10 and TMV 0; IR to TSWV.

Aristotle. Green-to-red blocky bell with great yield potential. Extra-large, thick-walled. Very vigorous plant that produces dark-green, anthocyanin-less fruit. R to Xcv 1–3, PVY, and Tm 0.

Autry. Uniformly blocky fruit that ripens red. Fruit set is concentrated, with high first-pick yields. R to Xcv 1–10 and Tm 0; IR to TSWV.

Blitz. Early-maturing, extra-large, blocky, green-to-red bell with great yield potential at first harvest. Fruit is high quality with thick walls and a uniformly blocky shape. HR to TMV 0, Xcv 0–5, 7–9; IR to TEV.

Boca. Fruit is very dark green with thick, firm walls. TSWV in addition to bacterial leaf spot resistance. R to Xcv 1–10.

Green Machine. Main-season hybrid bell pepper for the spring and fall season. Robust plant produces dark green, deep blocky, anthocyanin-less fruit turning red at maturity. HR to TMV 0; IR to Xcv 1–10 and TSWV.

Nitro S10®. A mid-maturing hybrid suited for place pack. It is adapted to fall and spring in the Southeast. Fruit has good size uniformity; is smooth, firm, and glossy dark green; and matures to red color. R to TMV 0; IR to Pc, TSWV, and Xcv 0–10.

Placepack. Main-season, high-quality, dark-green pepper with high percentage of four lobes. Plants provide good cover. R to Xcv 1–10, PVY 0–1, and Tm 0; IR to TEV.

Provider. Dark-green fruit with plant structure and fruit set, making it ideal for extended harvest. R to Xcv 1–10, PVY 0–1, and Tm 0; IR to TEV.

PS 09979325. Main-season hybrid that develops a mid-sized plant with green, maturing-to-red fruit targeted to the southeastern United States. The plants produce a high, concentrated set of firm, dark-green, smooth, blocky fruit 74 days after transplant. R to Tm 0 and Xcv 0–10 (X10R).

PS 9928302. Combines a large, robust plant with large, dark-green to firm-red fruits. In trials, very adaptable with good size, shape, uniformity, and color. It is anthocyanin-less. HR to Xcv 1–5, Tm 0, and Xvc 1–5 (X5R).

Regulator. Widely adapted. Strong plant with good cover. Produces a high percentage of uniform, four-lobed fruit. R to Xcv 1–10 and Tm 0; IR to TSWV 0.

Seedway 48. Medium plant size with large-to-jumbo, uniform, dark-green fruit. R to Xcv 1–10.

Shogun S10®. Extra-large, dark-green fruit with high yield potential. Adapted to late fall, winter, and spring in the Southeast. R to TMV 0; IR to TSWV and Xcv 1–10.

SV3255PB. Main-season variety with blocky green-to-red fruit. IR to Xcv 0–10.

Standout. Uniformly shaped, extra-large to jumbo-sized dark, glossy fruit.

Vanguard. Medium plant with good foliage. Fruit is dark green, blocky, four-lobed, and extra large with thick, firm walls. Early maturity with concentrated harvest. R to Xcv 1–5, PepMo, and ToM.

Sweet Peppers

Boris. Sweet banana type with light-yellow to red fruit. R to TSWV.

Lemon Delite, Orange Delite, Ruby Delite. Series consists of large-fruited snack pepper varieties with very early maturity and hot set potential. R to TMV 0 and Xcv 0–3, 7, 8.

Natasha. Sweet banana type with a vigorous plant and light-yellow to red fruit. R to Xcv 1–3.

Sopron. Sweet banana type with light-yellow to red fruit. R to Xcv 1–3.

Cubanelle

Aruba. Early-maturing, erect plant with three-to-four lobed, elongated fruit that matures from a pale lime green to a bright red.

Bimini. Thick-walled, heavy fruit with good setting ability and excellent flavor. Performs well in both fall and spring seasons. T to Xcv 1–10.

Granada. Good canopy provides protection against sun scald, well-adapted to the Southeast. Heavy yields of sweet, thick-walled Cubanelle peppers. Peppers turn from light green to red at maturity. R to Xcv 0–3, 7, 8.

Key West. Long, lime-green fruit that matures to red. R to Xcv 1–3.

Hot Ancho Poblano

Hitman. Dark green and glossy open-field fruit with high percentage of two-lobed fruit. Medium-early maturity. R to Tm 0.

Massivo. Mostly two-lobed dark-green fruit. R to TMV.

Hot Cayenne

Arapaho. Cayenne type with early maturity on a medium-sized plant. Produces long (8–9 in.), medium-high pungent fruit with great flavor and aroma.

Iberia. Long hot type similar to Mesilla but longer and slightly hotter. R to TMV.

Mesilla. Long hot type produces very long (9–11 × 1.5 in.) fruit that can be used green or red. Pods grow pendant from a large plant, maturing at mid-season. R to Tm 0 and PVY; IR to TEV.

Hot Jalapeño

Baluarte. Large, thick-walled fruit with low cracking. R to Xcv 1–3.

Compadre. Medium-to-late fruiting. Vigorous plant with good tolerance to high temperatures. Medium spicy (2,500-8, SHU). Continuous picking. Uniform, smooth, large fruit. No purpling. R to PVY and Tm; Xcv 2, 5.

Everman. Shiny and uniform fruit with excellent weight and shelf life and no cracking. Open plant with good regrowth and continuous set during the cycle. R to Xcv 1–3.

Jedi (Jaguar). Vigorous plant with jumbo fruit. R to Xcv 1–3.

Lexus. Concentrated early-season fruit set. Glossy dark-green fruit. HR to Xcv 1–3.

Mixteco. Early-maturing, heavy and thick-walled fruit with deep-green color. Strong plant with good regrowth that brings high yield potential. R to Tm 0; IR to Xcv 1–3.

Orizaba. Large, strong fruit with excellent leaf cover. Spicy with little cracking. R to Xcv 1–3.

PS 11435807. Vigorous medium plant with concentrated fruit set. Smooth dark-green fruit. R to PVY and TEV. IR to root-knot nematode.

PS 11435810. Vigorous tall plant with pungent, dark-green, smooth fruit. R to root-knot nematode, Pc, PVY, and TEV.

Other Hot Peppers

Altiplano. Vigorous serrano pepper with uniform and glossy green fruit.

Balada. Finger hot Asian-type pepper. Fruit matures from green to red, is slightly curved, tapers to a point, and is highly pungent.

Camino Real. Serrano type with medium maturity and large green-fruit size. R to PVY; IR to TEV.

Canario Real. A main-season hot banana pepper with large, heavy fruit and vigorous plant habit.

Charger. Anaheim type with smooth, flat, thick-walled fruit that is mildly hot. IR to TSWV.

Devil Serrano. Early, large, dark-green glossy fruit. Semi-indeterminate bush. HR to TMV and PVY; IR to TEV.

Don Picoso. Dark-green serrano type with thick-wall fruit.

Flaming Flare. Widely adapted Fresno pepper with 4-in. long, thin-walled fruit with a sweet and mildly hot flavor. R to TMV.

Fresno 3429. Vigorous medium-to-tall plant. 75 days to maturity. A thick, firm wall makes fruit a good shipper. Deep red at maturity.

Habanero. Habanero type (100,000–350,000 SHU) that is ready for harvest 90–100 days from transplant, extremely pungent, and suitable for both fresh and processing markets. The wrinkled fruit tapers to a point and measures approximately 2 × 1 in. The thin flesh is light green to orange pink at full maturity.

Inferno. This Hungarian hot wax hybrid produces high yields of uniform fruit. The thick-walled pods mature from yellow to red and are pendant, large, smooth, tapered, and well-suited for fresh market and pickling.

Lone Ranger. Serrano pepper medium-heat variety with excellent plant cover, good heat setting (10,000–23,000 SHU), large size averaging between 4 and 4.5 in., and thick walls for great shelf life. R to Xcv 0–3, 7, 8.

Megalodon. Large, habanero-type pepper with compact growth habit. Fruit green to orange to red.

Pathfinder. Serrano pepper with excellent plant and foliar cover and an average fruit length of 4.5–5 in. Dark-green fruit with thick walls is suitable for the export market. R to Xcv 0–3, 7, 8.

Rio de Oro. Very large Santa Fe type with wide shoulders that matures from golden yellow to red.

Rio Tesoro. Hybrid yellow Caribe pepper fruit measuring 3.5 × 2 in.

Super Habanero. Bright-red fruit with good shelf life. Medium-to-high plant vigor with good canopy coverage.

Table 1. Planting dates for pepper.

Table 2. Planting information for pepper.

The following tables list registered pesticides that should be integrated with other pest management methods. Additional information on integrated management methods can be requested from UF/IFAS Extension horticulture or agriculture agents. A list of local UF/IFAS Extension offices is available at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/find-your-local-office/.

Table 3. Herbicides approved for managing weeds in peppers. Labels change frequently. Be sure to read a current product label before applying any chemical. Contact: Nathan S. Boyd, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.

Table 4. Insecticides labeled for management of arthropod pests of peppers. Labels change frequently. Be sure to read a current product label before applying any chemical. Please refer to chapter 19 for information on biopesticides, including materials labeled for certified organic production. Contact: Jawwad Qureshi, UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center.

Table 5. Pepper fungicides ordered by disease and then FRAC group according to their mode of action. Labels change frequently. Be sure to read a current product label before applying any chemical. Please refer to chapter 19 for information on biopesticides, including materials labeled for certified organic production. Contact: Gary E. Vallad, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.

Table 6. Nonfumigant nematicides for peppers in Florida.

Table 7. Fumigant nematicides for peppers in Florida. Contact: Johan Desaeger, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.

Publication #HS732

Commercial

Disclaimers

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication do not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition.

Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the manufacturer's label.