This new Hybrid Habanero variety has been causing quite a stir among local Habanero producers, as it has performed extremely well across South Africa. John and Eddie Whitehead who farm in the Bot River-area are just some of the many satisfied growers.
The Habanero Ember F1 has quickly gained a reputation as a highly productive variety with exceptional fruit-setting capacity. The fruit produced by this variety is green, turning to an orange colour as it ripens, and has a fruit size of 5×3 cm. This makes it visually appealing on store shelves and in culinary creations.
But what really sets the Ember F1 apart is its productivity according to John and Eddie. They were able to achieve yields of over 1kg of fruit per plant, a remarkable achievement for a habanero pepper variety. Obviously the focus on a good fertigation program played a positive role.
In addition to its impressive yields, the Ember F1 has good disease resistance. It has been shown to be tolerant to Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tobacco streak virus (TSWY), Nematodes (N), and Potato virus Y (PVY). This makes it a valuable addition to farmers’ fields, as it allows them to maximize their yields while minimizing the use of harmful pesticides.Hygrotech is looking forward to more successes with Ember as this variety gains support amongst growers.
Specifications
- Fruit Colour: Green to orange
- Fruit size: 5x3cm
- Yield: Very high
- Suitability: Fresh Market
- Disease Tolerant: Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tobacco streak virus (TSWY), Nematodes (N), and Potato virus Y (PVY)
(Written by Theo Scholtz – Senior Field Officer, Stellenbosch, Western Cape)
