Contents
More recently, some 20 years ago, bell pepper in Our Country was associated exclusively with red. Moreover, all gardeners were well aware that green pepper is only at the stage of technical maturity, and then, when ripe, it should turn into one of the shades of red. At the moment, the number of varieties and hybrids of sweet pepper, only officially registered in Our Country, exceeds several hundred. And among them there are fruits of various shades: yellow, and orange, and green, and white, and even brown and purple.
The well-known seed company “Aelita” has bred and registered a whole “family” of sweet peppers with the definition Big, which is translated from English as big. All peppers from this family are characterized by their unique shade:
- Big daddy – purple;
- Big Mom – orange;
- Big fight – red-burgundy;
- Big Girl – orange-brown.
Sweet pepper Big Mama is one of the most popular representatives of this peculiar family, and this article is devoted to describing the characteristics of this variety.
Features of orange peppers
It has long been known that the color orange can positively influence the psychological mood of a person.
That is, the mere sight of orange peppers makes most people feel sweet. But responsible for such a bright color of the vegetable is beta-carotene, which is able to transform in the human body under the influence of enzymes into vitamin A. In addition, it is in orange and yellow peppers that the largest amount of rutin or vitamin P is found. This substance is able to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and make them more flexible.
But perhaps the most important thing that distinguishes orange and yellow pepper fruits is their high content, compared with their counterparts, of potassium and phosphorus. But potassium does a lot for the proper functioning of the heart muscle, while phosphorus is responsible for the normal functioning of the kidneys, and for the formation of bone tissue, and for healthy cell growth.
Thus, by growing and consuming orange and yellow peppers, you can significantly improve your well-being and even improve your mood.
Variety description
It is logical to start the description of the Big Mom pepper variety with its origin. Moreover, it was bred relatively recently, about 7-8 years ago, by scientists breeders of the Aelita seed-growing agricultural company. In 2012, this variety was officially registered in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Our Country with recommendations for cultivation in all regions of Our Country.
It is quite suitable for growing in open ridges, and in protected ground.
For example, in the Moscow region, to get a good harvest of this variety, it is better to use film tunnels, at least for early planting in the ground in late May or early June.
Big Mama pepper bushes have a semi-spreading shape and reach a height of 60-70 cm, however, in greenhouse conditions, the bushes can grow up to 100 cm. The leaves are medium in size, rather smooth, dark green in color.
According to the ripening time, some gardeners attribute Big Mom pepper to early-ripening varieties, others to mid-ripening. It can be assumed that about 120 days pass from the appearance of full shoots to the technical ripeness of the fruit. Peppers can already be used for salads, cooking and just for eating, but their color is still light green. In order for the fruits to color completely, it is necessary that another 15-20 days pass.
The Big Mom variety is famous for its good yield – from one square meter of plantings you can collect 7 kg of fruit and even more. True, these figures are more likely to grow peppers under cover and in a greenhouse.
The Big Mama variety is resistant to many nightshade diseases, pests also rarely annoy him. But preventive measures will never be superfluous.
Fruit Characteristics
It’s hard to argue with the appeal of the Big Mama pepper fruit, they captivate at first sight. But what other characteristics are characteristic of these peppers?
- The shape of peppercorns can be called cuboid, although since they are slightly elongated in length, they rather resemble a cylinder, slightly flattened on the sides. Some gardeners call these peppers barrel-shaped. Their growth form is drooping.
- The surface of the skin is smooth, attractive with a pronounced gloss. There is slight ribbing on the sides.
- The color of the fruit attracts with a juicy orange color, in a state of technical maturity it is dark green. But peppercorns are colored rather quickly in comparison with many mid-ripening varieties.
- The fruits grow large, it is not uncommon if the weight of one fruit is 200 grams. On average, their weight is 120-150 grams.
- The walls are thick and dense, their thickness reaches 10-12 mm, averaging 7-8 mm. The pulp is fleshy and juicy.
- According to the taste characteristics, the fruits of this variety deserve an exceptionally excellent rating. It is best to consume them fresh, straight from the bush. But according to their purpose, peppercorns are universal. They make excellent salads and stuffed dishes, and you can also cook a lot of delicious and very beautiful-looking preparations from them.
- The fruits keep well fresh and are suitable for freezing for the winter.
Peculiarities of growing
Big Mama pepper, like any other varieties of sweet pepper in the climatic conditions of our country, requires a preliminary seedling period. But growing pepper seedlings is not at all so difficult if you follow the basic requirements of this crop – most of all, it needs a lot of light, especially in the early stages of development, a sufficient amount of heat and average but uniform watering.
Pepper seeds of this variety germinate quite quickly, in some even after 4-5 days, but on average they will need 8-10 days for full germination. To increase the percentage of germination and ensure more uniform seedlings, it is advisable to soak the seeds before planting for several hours in any growth stimulator. At home, you can use aloe juice or a solution of honey in water, as well as any of the store-bought products, such as zircon, epin, Novosil and others.
Sowing pepper seeds of this variety for seedlings can be done in February if you plan to plant plants in a greenhouse later. Or in early March, if the pepper is planned to be grown outdoors. In the period before the appearance of the first two true leaves, the seedlings must be provided with 12-14-hour lighting. Typically, fluorescent or LED bulbs are used for these purposes.
From the end of March, the seedlings of peppers should already have enough natural light, which she can get while on the windowsills. But, from this moment until planting, it is advisable to feed the pepper seedlings several times with complex fertilizer.
Peppers of this variety are planted in a permanent place according to the scheme 35 by 50 cm. It is important not to bury the plants during transplantation. With a possible threat of low temperatures, plants can be covered from above with non-woven material or a film attached to the arcs.
Regular fertilizing and watering are essential conditions for a good yield of the Big Mama variety, since the formation of large fruits requires a large amount of nutrients.
Testimonials from truck drivers
The variety of Big Mom peppers is very well-deservedly popular, so there are a lot of reviews on it and most of them are positive.
Conclusion
Pepper Big Mama is a successful combination of beauty, excellent taste, productivity and early ripeness. Therefore, it is not surprising that he quickly gained popularity among gardeners.
