OUTSTANDING QUALITIES
- Early to mid-maturing red beetroot
- Adapted to warm season production
- Globe shaped roots with dark red external and internal colour
- High sugar content – preferred by processors
Merlin is an early to medium maturing hybrid red beetroot, adapted for summer production. Merlin has smooth, uniform, deep red, globe shaped roots with a small crown and refined taproot. Merlin offers higher sugar content (12 - 15%) in comparison to standard beet varieties. Due to its high sugar content, Merlin is a perfect choice for processors, fresh market growers and home gardeners. In addition, Merlin is also suitable for baby leaf and baby beet production. Merlin is less prone to zoning during warm conditions/heat stress. Merlin has intermediate resistance to Cercospora leaf spot/Cb (Cercospora beticola) and Downy mildew/Pfb Peronospora farinosa f.sp. betae. The latter ensures that the tops remain erect and healthy for optimum production and visual appeal in bunching.
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* |
MERLIN |
|
KIND |
F1 hybrid, round red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) |
|
SOWING SEASON |
Summer |
|
MATURITY |
Early to medium Warm season: 70 – 85 days from sowing Note: maturity depends on sowing date, production location and seasonal variations. |
|
ROOT DIMENSIONS |
Small to large (25mm – 95mm). Root size is influenced by the plant population |
|
ROOT SHAPE |
Round |
|
ROOT UNIFORMITY (SHAPE AND SIZE) |
Excellent |
|
EXTERNAL ROOT/SKIN COLOUR |
Dark red |
|
INTERNAL ROOT/FLESH COLOUR |
Dark red |
|
INTERNAL ZONING |
Little to none |
|
ROOT SKIN SMOOTHNESS |
Very smooth |
|
ROOT TASTE/BRIX (SUGAR CONTENT) |
Very sweet, high BRIX (12 – 15%) |
|
TAPROOT APPEARANCE |
Short, fine and neat |
|
TOP/FOLIAGE HEIGHT |
Tall, 35 – 40cm |
|
LEAF/FOLIAGE HEALTH AND HABIT |
Upright/erect |
|
LEAF/FOLIAGE COLOUR AND GLOSS |
Dark green and glossy |
|
PERCENTAGE LEAF PURPLING |
Average |
|
CROWN SIZE |
Small |
|
LEAF ATTACHMENT (SIZE AND STRENGTH) |
Medium to large and average |
|
BOLTING REACTION |
Average tolerance |
|
DISEASE RESISTANCE (SCIENTIFIC) |
Intermediate resistance: Cercospora beticola (Cb) and Peronospora farinosa f.sp. betae (Pfb) |
|
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 |
Bunched, baby leaf, fresh market, pre-pack and processing |
|
SPECIAL FEATURES, BENEFITS AND REMARKS |
Excellent variety for summer production. Not prone to zoning. Seed is available in a range of different seed sizes. |