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Thanks to the efforts of breeders and agricultural technicians, such a heat-loving crop as sweet pepper can be grown in harsh climatic conditions. The first and most important step to a rich harvest is the right choice of seeds. Each variety has its own characteristics and imposes certain requirements on growing conditions. For example, thick-walled sweet pepper varieties for the Moscow region need to be chosen in greenhouse or early ripening varieties. They are guaranteed to bear fruit in a short summer.
Overview of the best varieties of pepper for the Moscow region
When choosing pepper seeds, you should focus on what time you expect to get a crop. According to gardeners near Moscow, early-ripening varieties and hybrids are the best for growing. Their fruits are ready to eat in less than 100 days after germination.
Fidelio
Fidelio fruits are pale yellow, almost white. The taste is excellent – the pulp is juicy, thick and sweet. The vegetative period from germination to maturity lasts 90-100 days. By the time of ripening, each fruit reaches almost 180 g of weight.
Rhapsody F1
Early maturing hybrid with high productivity. The fruits ripen 75-80 days after planting seedlings in the ground. Fleshy fruits grow up to 16-18 cm in length. Wall thickness – more than 7 mm. In the process of ripening, the fruit changes its color from green to bright red. The hybrid is highly resistant to fungal and viral diseases.
The Orange Miracle
This variety of pepper begins to bear fruit 80-85 days after transplanting the dived seedlings into the greenhouse. On the open ground, the fruits may be tied a little later, depending on weather conditions.
Bright orange fruits of pepper have a tetrahedral cuboid shape and by the time of full ripening can reach 10-11 cm in height with a wall thickness of about 10 mm. Pepper Orange miracle looks beautiful not only in the garden, but also in salads and homemade preparations. The bush grows up to 70-90 cm in height. The plant grown from the seeds of the hybrid Orange Miracle F1, in terms of appearance and taste, is no different from the varietal seeds of the same name. But the hybrid is more resistant to viral and fungal diseases, tolerates transplanting more easily and the percentage of seed germination is much higher.
Atlantic F1
The hybrid grows well and bears fruit both in the greenhouse and in the open field. It is easy to recognize by its tall (up to 120 cm) sprawling bushes, which are strewn with large, slightly elongated multi-colored fruits. In the process of ripening, the fruits change color several times – from green to purple-red. With good care, it pleases with high yields – about 5 kg per square meter. m. Suitable for salads, retains taste during heat treatment and canning.
Winnie the Pooh
An early ripe variety of pepper that is ideal for growing in closed greenhouses or film tunnels. The plant is low – only 35-40 cm, with a small number of leaves. The yield is high – up to 5 kg per 1 sq. m. Orange-red fruits have an aesthetic presentation and large sizes – up to 15-18 cm in length. Some specimens can reach 10 cm in diameter. Winnie the Pooh pepper is suitable for home cooking and does not lose its taste during long-term storage. It can be successfully grown on an enclosed balcony or windowsill.
Coffin
Yielding early ripe variety of pepper with large red fruits. Bushes are low, compact. Pepper Funtik is universal – it bears fruit well in the greenhouse and on the open ground. From the moment the seedlings are transplanted into the ground, it begins to bear fruit at 78-82 days. On one plant during the entire period of ripening, 15-20 fruits are formed. The variety is adapted to growing in harsh climatic conditions, and in the suburban areas it can bear fruit until October. The fruits of the Funtik pepper are large, thick-walled, good in taste and fragrant.
Tempo F1
An early maturing hybrid with good yields. Fruits in 80 – 90 days after sowing seeds. Pepper fruits are large, glossy. In the period of technical ripeness, the fruits are pale yellow. By the time of full maturation, they acquire a red color. The bush is low (50-60 cm) with a small number of leaves. Productivity in greenhouse conditions (when planted according to the scheme 70×25) – 8 kg per 1 sq. m, and in an open garden – up to 6 kg.
Varieties for greenhouses
This is just a small list of sweet pepper varieties that can be grown in the Moscow region and other cold regions. Dutch varieties and hybrids such as − Latino, Indalo, Cardinalsuitable for growing in heated greenhouses. Seedlings for them can be sown already in early February, and at the end of March, seedlings are planted in a greenhouse. The first fruits of pepper ripen at the end of May. Harvest from each bush is removed up to 5 times per season. The life of these varieties is quite long – the plants bear fruit until late autumn.
breeders have developed high-quality and early-ripening greenhouse varieties Tenderness, Mercury, Dobrynya and others. These varieties are adapted to the northern climate and are suitable for growing not only in the regions near Moscow, but also in the Urals and Siberia. But in unprotected soil, the yield drops sharply or the plant does not bear fruit at all.
Varieties for open ground
On the open ground, you can try to grow such varieties of pepper as Corvette, Lemon Miracle or Sweet Chocolate – the unusual color of these fruits looks very picturesque and will decorate any area. Variety fruits Corvette, until they reach ripeness, change color from green to bright red. Given the different ripening times of peppers, one bush can be strewn with green, yellow, orange and burgundy fruits at the same time. lemon miracle well tolerates adverse weather conditions. Fruits of bright yellow almost lemon color with thick pulp are tasty both fresh and canned. sweet chocolate intended mainly for salads, as the fruits are not large, but juicy and fragrant. Their color is also interesting – in the process of growth, the color changes from dark green to chocolate, and the flesh inside is bright red.
These varieties of peppers are great for growing in the middle lane, as they are adapted to a changeable climate, short and wet summers. Plants are undersized, thanks to this you can save space in the garden by planting several bushes in large flowerpots right on the street.
From each plant per season, you can collect 3-4 kg of fragrant fleshy fruits, which are well suited for canning and cooking various dishes. And in a dark, cool place, fruits can be stored without loss of appearance and taste for up to 2 months.
Growing pepper seedlings from seeds
Sweet peppers are traditionally planted by seedlings with a pick of seedlings. This method helps to identify weak and diseased plants before planting in a greenhouse, because the sprouts, before getting to their permanent “place of residence”, go through several stages of sorting.
Germination of seeds
Soaking pepper seeds in warm water for several days allows you to determine the percentage of germination. Seeds that gave roots before sowing will sprout much faster. Before soaking, you need to choose the largest and fullest seeds.
Seed sowing
Pepper seeds are sown in late February or early March. The soil should be warm and moist. The sowing depth is no more than 1.5 cm, and the minimum distance between the seeds is 2 cm. The film is not removed until the first shoots appear, since the microclimate necessary for the seeds is created in the soil. Before sowing, the soil is fertilized and disinfected.
Seedling of seedlings
This procedure helps to strengthen the root system of the pepper and prepare the plant for the next transplant. In the process of diving (planting sprouts in separate pots), weak seedlings are rejected.
Dive is an important stage in the cultivation of pepper. This culture is quite capricious and hard to get used to new conditions. The distribution of seedlings in separate containers will provide more free space for the roots and the sprouts themselves. In order not to injure the roots, the seedling is transplanted into the garden along with a clod of earth. This is convenient to do if you dive seedlings into disposable containers made of thin plastic that are easy to remove.
Thus, by the time the seedlings are planted, only the strongest and healthiest plants remain, which will delight with a good harvest before the onset of frost.
This video describes in detail the process of transplanting peppers in a greenhouse.
The process of transplanting pepper seedlings into open ground is slightly different from greenhouse agricultural technology. For beds in an open area, it is recommended to choose varieties of pepper with medium or late ripening. The first time after transplanting, it is better to cover the bed with peppers for the night. For this, metal arcs and a dense plastic film are used. At air temperatures below 15 degrees, the film tunnel is not opened. It is removed only after stable warm weather is established.