Kestrel F1 Hybrid Round Red Beetroot

OUTSTANDING QUALITIES

  • MID-MATURING RED BEETROOT
  • SMOOTH, UNIFORM ROOTS WITH A SMALL, REFINED TAPROOT AND SWEET TASTE
  • ADAPTED FOR COOL SEASON PRODUCTION – HIGH BOLTING TOLERANCE
  • EXCELLENT FOLIAR DISEASE RESISTANCE PACKAGE
  • IDEAL FOR BABY BEET PRODUCTION

Kestrel is a medium maturing red beetroot hybrid, suitable for warm and cool season production. Kestrel produces high quality, smooth, uniform, globe-shaped roots which are complemented with a small, refined taproot and deep red external and internal root colour. Kestrel’s hybrid vigour leads to early, uniform plant establishment and its ability to produce a round shape with a small crown, small leaf attachment and fine taproot at an early stage make 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) – the latter ensures erect and healthy foliage throughout the growing season.

SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Sakata do not recommend sowing during April, May and June in areas prone to heavy frost.
  • Contact a Sakata area representative for a beetroot sowing guide.

CHARACTERISTIC*: KESTREL
KIND: F1 hybrid, round red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.)
SOWING SEASON: All year round
MATURITY: Medium.
Warm season: 70 – 85 days from sowing.
Cool season: 90 – 110 days from sowing. Note: maturity depends on sowing date, production location and seasonal variations.
ROOT DIMENSIONS: Baby to medium (20mm – 55mm). Root size is influenced by the plant population
ROOT SHAPE: Globe
ROOT UNIFORMITY (SHAPE AND SIZE): Excellent
EXTERNAL ROOT/SKIN COLOUR: Deep red
INTERNAL ROOT/FLESH COLOUR: Deep red
INTERNAL ZONING: Little/very faint
ROOT SKIN SMOOTHNESS: Very smooth
ROOT TASTE/BRIX (SUGAR CONTENT): Mildly sweet, average BRIX (8 – 10%)
TAPROOT APPEARANCE: Short, thin and refined
TOP/FOLIAGE HEIGHT: Medium tall,  30-35cm
LEAF/FOLIAGE HEALTH AND HABIT: Upright/erect
LEAF/FOLIAGE COLOUR AND GLOSS: Dark green and medium gloss
PERCENTAGE LEAF PURPLING: Very low
CROWN SIZE: Small
LEAF ATTACHMENT(SIZE AND STRENGTH): Small and average
BOLTING REACTION: Very slow to bolt – high tolerance
DISEASE RESISTANCE (SCIENTIFIC):
Intermediate resistance: Cercospora beticola (Cb), Peronospora farinosa f.sp. betae (Pfb), Erysiphe polygoni (Ep)
SUGGESTED SOWING DENSITY: Density depends on the season, sprout count, size requirement of the roots and the target market/uses of the final product, however we suggest:
Pre-pack beetroot: 350 000 – 550 000 seeds per hectare.
Processing/larger beetroot: 250 000 – 350 000 seeds per hectare.
Baby beetroot: 900 000 – 1 200 000 seed per hectare
MARKET USES: Fresh market, processing, pre-packing and baby beet
SPECIAL FEATURES, BENEFITS AND REMARKS: High yield potential with excellent foliar disease resistance, well suited for baby beet production. The seed is available in a range of different seed sizes.