"With the WS 1225 yellow pepper, anthocyanin is no problem"

After 25 years growing tomatoes, Leo Zwinkels will cultivate peppers for the first time this year; yellow ones, that is. He made this choice after consulting Wim Grootscholten, founder of Westland Seeds, about the new breed WS 1225, which is really suitable. "We will grow it again next year."

Leo Zwinkels in his greenhouse in De Lier

New harvesting system

The WS 1225 yellow pepper is a breed developed by Westland Seeds. Leo Zwinkels started growing it this year in De Lier on 3.5 hectares. A double experiment: not only was it a new breed, but also a whole new crop. After 25 years of growing tomatoes, he switched to yellow peppers. To this end, the greenhouse has been equipped with a new harvesting system. The Benomic Stars are connected to a pulley system that allows for an easier harvesting. The race WS 1225 simplifies the work in the greenhouse; it is a labour-friendly variety."

The hoist system makes the harvest easier

Anthocyanin

Not only is it labour-friendly, but the breed has actually fascinated Zwinkels. Next year, the WS 1225 will be grown again. "The most noteworthy aspects are the uniformity, texture, beautiful yellow colour and lustre of the fruit. We almost only reap 85'ers," says the grower. "We have a regular setting, with hardly any on the second axil. Moreover, we get very little class 2 fruit, not even one percent." Also, anthocyanin is no problem. "I'd dare not say we have no problems with it, but these are extremely rare."

Iwan van Vliet of Westland Seeds with Leo Zwinkels

Movable screen and permanent film

The plants were sown on 6 November and were brought in the greenhouse on the last day of 2013. Zwinkels used a movable screen and permanent film. "The late planting makes cultivation easier. It is a strong variety and performs best in later planting dates," says Iwan van Vliet, of Westland Seeds. "It offers a high early production and it retains its vigour." Zwinkels harvested a total of 30 kg / m2 last weekend and the season will last until mid-November. He expects to reach a yield of 35 kg per square metre.

Does it take some getting used to, to switch from tomatoes to peppers?

Zwinkels says that it does, although it is going well. "This is a heat-loving variety; with these tomatoes I used lower temperatures. Next year we will make the greenhouse even warmer," he says; "that way, we may be able to further improve the yield."

For more information:
Westland Seeds
Poortcamp 9E
2678 PT De Lier
E info@westlandseeds.nl
T +31 174 527 750
www.westlandseeds.nl