Kryptonite is a variety bred by Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms in California. It is distinguished by its green-and-yellow striped skin and dark purple, anthocyanin-rich discoloration in shades of indigo. The fruits are round or slightly flattened, sometimes with delicate ribbing near the stem, and typically weigh 75–180 g.
The green flesh is firm and juicy, with a distinctive, refreshing flavor and a subtle tartness. The fruit works well in salads and as a fresh snack, and it retains its quality for a long time after harvest. It ripens starting in the middle of the season.
Our growing observations: Over five consecutive growing seasons, the line we cultivated exhibited self-terminating growth—the shoot stopped growing after producing about 5–6 clusters. This is a significant difference from the variety’s descriptions in catalogs as non-self-terminating. The plants have regular foliage and require staking. In our cultivation, training the plants to a single shoot with staking allowed us to obtain well-lit clusters and uniform fruit.
Under our conditions, Kryptonite set fruit well even during temperature fluctuations. However, we observed a susceptibility to dry tip rot. When growing this variety, it is particularly important to ensure consistent soil moisture and balanced fertilization. Calcium deficiency in the fruit can occur even when the soil contains sufficient calcium, but the plant has difficulty absorbing or transporting it.
