"Keessie RZ a good choice for summer"

In 2015 bell pepper grower Hans van der Waal tested the variety Keessie RZ (35-192 RZ) of Rijk Zwaan on a small scale. This season he planted the new variety in November on 14,000 sqm. at his farm in Zevenhuizen (sowing date October 10th). The Dutch grower uses a triple stem system and is looking for large fruits and fast growth during the summer months.

"Keessie is reasonably easy to grow. We grow it with a night temperature of 19ºC and a day temperature of 21ºC. In the beginning it was slower to get underway with the first fruiting, but with the increase of light it picked up again, and now it's faster than most other varieties. In terms of colouring the variety is 2 or 3 days slower than Nagano RZ. Conversely, we see bigger fruits; it's 20 grams heavier for sure. That's why we also call Keessie 'the bigger Nagano'."

Large and fast
"This variety scores high in terms of size and speed. During the summer months, it is important to us to have fruits of 180 grams minimum without losing speed. Keessie is capable to deliver that. And the fruits are fine to look at, with beautiful shape and colouring. Sometimes the internodes are a little short, therefore the fruits are hanging too close, which makes the cutting very difficult. You don’t want to damage the other fruits. Furthermore, the crop is very easy to handle. Budding and turning goes rapidly."

For more information:
Rijk Zwaan
Burgemeester Crezéelaan 40
2678 KX De Lier
Netherlands
T +31 174 532 300
rijkzwaannederland@rijkzwaan.nl
www.rijkzwaan.nl