Guidelines Florate 2020

Florate

Florate (E20B.0308) General Florate is a large, smooth, yellow blocky pepper, with an average fruit weight of 195- 215 grams. A striking feature of the crop is the large leaves that remain beautifully green all year round. This variety distinguishes itself in the market by its size and high total production, in combination with Tm: 0-3 and TSWV: 0 resistance. Propagation Enza Zaden has no preference for specific sowing dates. The plant has short internodes, and therefore does not need to be spaced out as quickly as other varieties. This variety can be lit for a little longer during propagation. The plant can be delivered as a small (4- week) or finished (6-week) plant. First phase of cultivation Make sure that the greenhouse and the rockwool slabs are at a good temperature before planting (greenhouse: minimum 22°C, slab: minimum 20°C). The slab should be filled with an EC of 3. Once the plants are well rooted in, you can gradually decrease the 24-hour temperature. A special feature of this variety is that even though the density of its foliage make it appear vegetative, it is an easy setting plant! A large day/night difference for setting is not necessary and can cause some shrink cracks and/or tails. That is why we recommend that you maintain a relatively flat heating regime for this variety (minimum pre-night temperature: 18°C). The 1st set may be left on the 3rd or 4th axil, 1 fruit per stem. The fruit is relatively light green, so harvesting green is not recommended. Spring You can keep speed in the crop while growing with a relatively flat temperature regime. This is important to prevent shrink cracks on the fruit. Keep a high night temperature (minimum 18°C), and ensure a high humidity deficit (aim for more than 2.5 g/kg). If the night temperature is allowed to drop too low, this variety can develop some ears and tails. There may be some stem inequality in this period, which will improve later. In the first set, the fruit stems are often slightly longer (compared to Gialte). Later in the year this will be comparable to Gialte. The irrigation strategy is very important for this crop. The variety has high root pressure, so be careful with watering. An active heating/venting line is essential for Florate. Saving extra moisture to maintain growth is not necessary. Preferably only water when the plant is sufficiently active. Therefore, do not start too early in the morning. The advice is to steer dependent on light. Stop in the afternoon on time and thereby realize a sufficient decrease in the moisture content in the slab (at least 8-10%) during the night. More attention is required on dark days. This applies throughout the year. Avoid wet spots in the greenhouse, ensure that drainage is optimum. Depending on the weather conditions, after the first set you can skip 2-3 axils and keep 2-3 fruit per stem in the second set. Summer This variety shows its strength through anthocyanin formation (purple colouration) in the leaf axils. Compared with Gialte, growth of Florate is slightly bushier (less controlled). The variety has fairly short internodes and looks full and leafy. Keep up to date with the crop work but avoid topping too close to the head so that there are enough leaves left for transpiration at the top. Given the leaf coverage, a coating on the greenhouse roof is less of a necessity. Shrink cracks are an aspect to look out for. Good leaf coverage at the top of the plant helps limit root pressure on the fruit walls. Keep the night temperature relatively high, with low relative humidity (RH). This will mean paying close attention to screen usage. To remove moisture, we advise venting with a small gap above the screens during the night before turning up the heating. When the temperature is increased, the RH in the greenhouse will decrease even further, so the screen can be left closed for slightly longer in the morning to prevent a cold downdraught onto the heads of the plants and avoid excessive root pressure on the fruit. Try to avoid starting irrigation while the screens are still closed. A useful tip is to configure irrigation to start as soon as the screen is opened. The variety maintains sufficient growth in the summer and has a relatively full head and fresh green leaves. Remember to continue to use sufficient sulfphur in the summer. Keep the EC high enough in the summer (at least 2.2 mS/cm). If the slab EC tends to rise (under extreme conditions), the EC can be temporarily reduced to 1.8 mS/cm. Make sure you return to 2.4 mS/cm early enough in the afternoon to limit the root pressure at night. Fruit weight may differ per grower and growing regime, but in 2019 it averaged 220 grams in the spring, and 180-190 grams through the extremely hot summer. In 2020 it averaged 210 grams in the spring and 200 grams in the summer. Finally Florate will continue to grow and develop well throughout the year, with high yields of consistently good-sized fruit, similar to that of Gialte. Growers often comment positively that the fruit is easy to harvest. Combined with a relatively high fruit weight, this allows a good harvesting speed. 2 | Enza Zaden Enza Zaden | 3