Two new vegetable varieties were chosen as part of the 2010 All-America Selections Trials. “Cajun Belle” Pepper and “Shiny Boy” Watermelon join the growing list of AAS Winners. If you are looking for interesting, dependable new varieties to try out this year you might want to give one or both a look.
“Cajun Belle” Pepper
Cajun Belle Pepper
There’s Cajun flavor in this southern belle. Peppers are both sweet and savory. The fruit look like small bell peppers about 2” x 3” with 3 or 4 lobes. Early to mature, look for mature green peppers 60 days after transplanting into your garden. When left on the plant, fruit will change color from green to scarlet and finish red, filled with vitamin C. ‘Cajun Belle’ plants produce a high yield of peppers due to vigor and excellent fruit set. Compact plants are two feet tall and wide, a perfect stature for containers. When grown at AAS Trial grounds, ‘Cajun Belle’ showed no disease problems. ‘Cajun Belle’ was bred by Grow Star L.L.C. and seed companies can purchase seed from PanAmerican Seed Company. Gardeners will be able to purchase seed or plants from their favorite retailer.
How to Grow
Sow seed indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date. Use sterile soilless media, water completely, then allow to drain. Place seed on top of media, cover lightly. Maintain 65-70ºF media temperature until seed germinates usually 5 to 10 days. Grow on using warm temperatures, 65ºF. Peppers are native to tropical America so maintain warm temperatures for maximum growth.
“Shiny Boy” Watermelon
Shiny Boy Watermelon
In a taste test against comparisons, ‘Shiny Boy’ won! Judges favored the sweet tropical flavor and crisp texture. A red fleshed melon with dark seeds; this globe-shaped melon weighed about 20 pounds, some larger. The hybrid plants are vigorous; vines can grow up to 12 feet. ‘Shiny Boy’ can be grown vertically so that a large yard for a vegetable garden is not needed. Judges noted a high yield and generally healthy plants, tolerant of severe weather. It is an art form to determine when melons are ripe for harvest but plan to check plants in about 75 days from transplanting for mature fruit. ‘Shiny Boy’ is earlier than other varieties. This AAS Winner can be grown successfully in any geographic region with warm summer growing conditions. It was bred by Known-You Seed Company.
How to Grow
In northern areas, sow seed 4 weeks prior to last frost date. Sow seed directly into peat pots filled with soil-less mix that has been well-watered and allowed to drain. Cover with media and maintain 75°F. Wrap in plastic to maintain uniform moisture. Germination will occur in 7 to 14 days. Keep warm, transplant after soil and air temperatures warm or protect from cool night temperatures. In areas with long growing seasons, seed may be sown directly into prepared garden soil.
