CHARACTERISTIC*: KESTREL
KIND: F1 hybrid garden beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris var. conditiva Alef.)
SOWING SEASON: Warm and cool
MATURITY: Early – Warm season: 65 – 80 days from sowing Cool season: 90 – 110 days from sowing
ROOT SHAPE AND UNIFORMITY: Round and very good
SMOOTHNESS: Very smooth
EXTERNAL/SKIN COLOUR: Deep red
INTERNAL FLESH COLOUR: Deep red
INTERNAL ZONING: Very faint
SUGAR CONTENT/BRIX: High (9 – 10 %)
TAPROOT: Short, thin and refined
TOP/FOLIAGE HEIGHT: Medium, 30 – 35 cm
LEAF/FOLIAGE HABIT: Erect to flagging
LEAF/FOLIAGE COLOUR AND GLOSS: Green / medium gloss
PERCENTAGE LEAF PURPLING: Low
CROWN ATTACHMENT SIZE: Small
STRENGHT OF LEAF ATTACHMENT: Medium
BOLTING REACTION: Very slow to bolt – high tolerance
DISEASE REACTION (SCIENTIFIC): Intermediate resistance: Cercospora beticola (Cb), Peronospora farinosa f.sp. betae (Pfb), Erysiphe polygoni (Ep)
SUGGESTED SOWING DENSITY: Density depends on season, sprout count, size requirement and use of final product. Pre-pack beet:350 000 – 550 000 seeds per hectare Processing/larger beet: 250 000 – 350 000 seeds per hectare Baby beet:900 000 – 1 200 000 seed per hectare
MARKET USES: Fresh market, processing, pre-packing and baby beet
SPECIAL FEATURES: High yield potential, uniform and round roots with a refined taproot, excellent foliar disease resistance, well suited for baby beet production.
OUTSTANDING QUALITIES
- EARLY MATURING, ADAPTED FOR COOL SEASON PRODUCTION
- HIGH BOLTING TOLERANCE
- SMOOTH, UNIFORM ROOTS WITH A REFINED TAPROOT AND SWEET TASTE
- EXCELLENT DISEASE RESISTANCE PACKAGE
- IDEAL FOR BABY BEET PRODUCTION
Kestrel is an early maturing garden beet hybrid, suitable for cool season production. Kestrel produces high quality, smooth, uniform, round roots with a refined taproot which is complemented with an excellent external and internal root colour. Kestrel’s hybrid vigour leads to early, uniform plant establishment and its ability to develop a round shape with a small crown (leaf attachment) and refined taproot at an early stage makes it an excellent candidate for baby beet production. Kestrel is suitable for the bunched, fresh and pre-pack markets, and in addition roots can be stored (controlled environment) for extended periods of time when harvested at full maturity. Kestrel has intermediate resistance against Cercospora leaf spot /Cb (Cercospora beticola), Downy mildew/Pfb (Peronospora farinosa f.sp. betae) and Powdery mildew/EP (Erysiphe polygoni) – this ensures an erect and healthy foliage throughout the growing season
SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS
- Kestrel is recommended for cool season production Sakata do not recommend sowing during April, May and June in areas experiencing severe/intense frost – contact area representative for a sowing guide
- DESCRIPTION