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Home > News > Peppers and Aubergines

Peppers and Aubergines

Hedon began producing sweet bell peppers in 1998 at Newport – which remains the company’s head office and distribution centre. Alongside the full range of standard varieties, a red romaro type - Charly from Syngenta – is now being grown exclusively for Tesco. Following the purchase and redevelopment of the North East Growers site, a further 25 acres is now devoted to production of the red pepper variety Jubilee, from Rijk Zwaan.

Supplying Tesco and Sainsbury, 10 acres at the North East Growers site is devoted to aubergines. Growing predominantly Ritmo, from Rijk Zwaan, the plants are grafted and grown in rockwool.

Aubergines are a demanding crop from a pest control perspective, in particular in regard to whitefly and aphids. Working with Syngenta, a series of biological control strategies are employed using a host of predators and parasites including Macrolophus, Orius, Aphidoletes, Aphidius and Phytoseiulus.

In addition to using biological strategies to control pests Hedon have bee hives to house the bees that pollinate the plants.

In the UK the market demands smaller size fruit and Hedon average yields of 45 kilos m2. In countries such as Holland, the market demands larger aubergines and yields are generally in the region of 60 kilos m2.

In a bid to widen the product range, Hedon is experimenting with different coloured and shaped aubergines, including round Turkish types.