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Growing popular bell peppers in unprotected soil in domestic climatic and weather conditions is not at all an easy task.
This is not surprising, because the vegetable crop originally grew in the hottest and most humid regions of Central and Latin America. However, despite this, the level of agricultural technology and breeding work has grown so much in recent years that it is quite realistic to get a good harvest of bell pepper in unprotected soil conditions even in the middle zone. What many amateur gardeners do every year with success.
Pepper Variety Tips
In the absence of sufficient experience, it is not easy to choose the right seeds for planting from the extremely wide range offered today in any specialty store. Therefore, some general rules should be followed:
Carefully study the description (always placed on a bag of seeds) of the variety and what is the main thing, for what conditions it is intended.
First of all, you should decide on the ripening period that a particular gardener needs based on how much time he has for growing peppers. By maturity, all varieties are divided into three groups:
- early ripe (80-100 days). Such varieties of peppers are best suited for unprotected ground conditions, when the period of sustained warm and sunny days is relatively short.
- The middle-ripening (115-130 days). They can also be used outdoors, but will require a little more attention to get a decent harvest.
- late ripening (up to 140 days). The use of such varieties of sweet pepper for planting in open ground is quite problematic – they simply do not have time to show their best qualities and properties.
Secondly, special attention must be paid to the resistance of the selected pepper variety to diseases and pests that are most common in this particular region. Insufficient attention to this issue can lead to the fact that all the work on growing and caring for a vegetable will be in vain due, as always, to a plant disease that does not manifest itself in time.
Thirdly, you should pay attention to sweet pepper varieties zoned for a particular region where it is planned to be grown.
Fourthly, each gardener must decide for himself whether to focus on hybrids or varieties of vegetable crops. Each option has its undeniable pros and cons. The main advantage of the varieties is the possibility of independently obtaining seeds for future crops, as well as their less whimsicality to conditions and care with a more stable yield, although not such a high yield. The advantages of the hybrid are also palpable – high yields and distinct taste qualities. An additional advantage is that hybrid seeds do not require significant preparation for sowing, since most of the activities have already been completed in the seed farm.
Compliance with these simple tips will allow the gardener to choose the most suitable variety or hydride of sweet pepper for his region and for him.
Features of agricultural technology
Growing bell pepper in unprotected soil has some features.
Seeds can be planted both in special disposable cups (their volume is usually 250 ml) and in large containers (boxes, containers, etc.), the seed planting depth is usually 1,5-2 cm.
Caring for pepper seedlings intended for planting in open ground, in terms of its agricultural technology, in principle, does not differ from caring for ordinary seedlings: standard loosening, watering and hardening procedures are performed. With their correct implementation, by the end of May, the time for planting grown seedlings in open ground will come up.
It is best to produce it on a warm sunny day. Bell pepper seedlings are planted, as a rule, in two rows, the usual width of the beds is about 1 meter. The distance between the nearest plants should be equal to or exceed 0,3 meters, between adjacent rows – about 0,5 meters.
The best varieties of pepper for open ground
A fairly large number of varieties and hybrids are universal, that is, they can be grown both in protected conditions of greenhouses and film coatings, and in open ground. Just in the second case, much more plant care is required. But some varieties are bred mainly for open ground. To complete the picture, it is necessary to study the properties of both.
Orange
The variety of Bulgarian pepper Orange is mid-season. It has a small bush, rarely reaching a height of 45 cm. The fruits of the vegetable crop have a bright orange or red-orange color, an elongated rounded shape, and a smooth surface. Peppercorns are small, their weight is usually less than 40 grams.
A distinctive feature of the Orange variety is a special sweet taste and a distinct aroma of fruits. According to the method of use, it is universal, excellent for salads, as well as for canning or cooking lecho.
Through the efforts of breeders, the sweet pepper variety has been given properties that contribute to growing in open ground in central Our Country, namely: unpretentiousness to conditions and care, the ability to withstand low temperatures. In addition, the variety is quite resistant to diseases.
California miracle
One of the most popular varieties of bell pepper for open ground among gardeners. Vegetable culture refers to mid-season. The bush of the plant is quite compact and large – its height can reach 1 meter. In addition, the bush of this variety is characterized by powerful and elastic branches, so it does not need a garter. The fruits of the California miracle are quite large, with a mass of peppercorns up to 120-150 grams. At the same time, their structure is very fleshy, dense. Peppers have a bright red color, the correct cube-shaped shape and a slightly ribbed surface.
The California Miracle variety is universal both in terms of the place of cultivation (both in unprotected and protected ground) and in terms of the method of consumption (salads, heat treatment during cooking, canning). Taste properties are pronounced and appreciated by numerous gardeners.
An additional advantage of the variety is resistance to most diseases, in particular, verticillium wilt. This is also why the variety stands out for its high and very stable yield, with extreme unpretentiousness to growing conditions and caring for it.
Gift of Moldova
No less popular and widespread than the previous one is a variety of pepper. It, like the previous one, refers to mid-season varieties of vegetable crops. The bush of the plant is low, rarely exceeds 0,4 meters, medium spreading. Peppercorns have a cone-shaped shape, a characteristic red color with a dark tint and are distinguished by a clearly defined fleshy structure of the fruit. They are relatively small in size, the mass of which in most cases is 70-80 grams.
The variety is excellent for unprotected ground, but can also be planted in greenhouses. It is unpretentious to growing conditions, has a high degree of resistance to wilting. The popularity and wide distribution of the variety was brought by its high and stable yield, which, combined with high adaptability to a wide variety of conditions, makes it extremely attractive to gardeners.
The taste of the culture is quite high, most experts recommend it primarily for canning.
Swallow
Variety Swallow refers to the mid-season variety of vegetable crops. The height of its bush is about half a meter, and the shape is semi-spreading. Peppercorns have a characteristic light green color and a regular conical shape, slightly rounded. The fruits are relatively small in size, rarely reaching up to 90-100 grams, as well as a dense and smooth skin.
The variety is bred specifically for open ground. It has sufficient resistance to various diseases, in addition, it has a high yield and withstands transportation well. Also, the Swallow variety is able to withstand the effects of cold temperatures and even autumn frosts. Most often used for canning.
Siberian prince
Variety Siberian Prince is one of the early ripening varieties. Vegetable bushes are relatively low, semi-spreading shape. Peppercorns have a very rich and bright red color, a fleshy interior and a smooth, glossy skin. The sizes of peppercorns are usually small, rarely exceeding 100 grams. The shape of the fruit is a regular cone.
The variety of sweet pepper is bred for open ground, but it may well be planted in a greenhouse. The Siberian prince has one peculiarity of agricultural technology – he needs to periodically trim the lateral shoots, otherwise the peppercorns will grow small. Seedlings of the variety do not need picking.
One of the main advantages of the variety are excellent taste properties and a peculiar aroma. According to the method of consumption, the variety belongs to the universal, because it can be used both in salad form and for various preservation.
Ermak
This variety belongs to early maturing (95 days). It was bred by the Pridnestrovian Research Institute of Agriculture and can be used in open and protected ground. The variety is zoned on the territory of Our Country. The bush of the plant is low, rarely reaches 35-45 cm. The peppercorns are pyramidal in shape and quite large, their weight reaches 85-95 grams with an average wall thickness of about 6 mm. Peppers have a distinct dark green color at the stage of technical maturity.
The variety stands out for its high taste properties and can be used in any form: in salads, after heat treatment and for canning.
In addition, the variety has a high degree of resistance to many diseases, in particular, verticillium, tobacco mosaic virus. In addition, it resists adverse climatic conditions well.
Nikitich
Variety Dobrynya Nikitich refers to early ripening. Technical maturity occurs 3,5-4 months after germination. Vegetable culture has a short bush and a strong stem.
Peppercorns have the shape of a rectangle or trapezoid, a glossy surface with no signs of ribs. The fruits are relatively large, often their weight exceeds 120 grams, while the wall thickness can vary greatly – from 0,4 to 0,8 cm. When technical ripeness is reached, the peppercorns turn yellow, which turns red as they ripen. Variety Dobrynya Nikitich can yield up to 3,6-3,9 kg / sq. m.
Belladonna F1
Bell pepper hybrid Belladonna is early ripening. The bush of the plant has a compact shape. The hybrid can be successfully grown in both unprotected and greenhouse greenhouses.
Peppercorns at the stage of technical maturity have a rare milky white color, which turns into bright orange as it ripens. The fruits are quite large, with a wall thickness of 6-7 mm and have a regular and attractive outwardly cubic shape with dimensions of about 10 * 11 cm.
An earlier term for the appearance of the first peppercorns is achieved by the absence of picking seedlings. The hybrid is quite popular among gardeners, due to the combination of relatively high yields and excellent taste of the fruit.
Isabella F1
The Isabella hybrid is mid-season, which allows you to start picking fruits after 120 days. The bush of the plant is quite tall, closed. Peppercorns are prism-shaped, slightly elongated and bright red in color at the stage of technical maturity. They are quite large, often reaching a mass of 160 grams or more, while having a wall thickness of up to 8,5 mm and a fleshy structure.
The hybrid is unpretentious in care; for its successful cultivation, the usual events are quite enough. According to the method of use – universal, suitable for salads, heat treatment and canning.
The variety has a fairly high yield – up to 6-8 kg / sq. m, which is achieved by the simultaneous ripening of 20 peppercorns on a bush.
Cheerfulness
Variety Vigor is a medium-early plant. The first fruits reach the stage of technical maturity at 95-105 days. The bush of a vegetable crop is quite tall, of a closed structure, has glossy, elongated-ovate leaves.
The fruit has a fairly small size, the shape of a regular cone with a slightly ribbed surface. Peppercorns at the stage of technical maturity have a light green color, then, upon reaching biological maturity, they turn red.
The mass of the fetus rarely exceeds 80 grams, the thickness of the walls of peppercorns is 5-6 mm.
The variety of bell pepper is distinguished by a combination of two main advantages:
- high yield, reaching 9,9 kg / sq. m.;
- excellent taste properties of fruits.
In addition to the above, the variety has a high degree of resistance to diseases and pests found in domestic conditions.
Conclusion
The improvement of agricultural techniques and selection work made it possible for gardeners to obtain decent yields when growing sweet pepper, even in difficult open ground conditions. The main thing for this is the correct choice of variety and compliance with the requirements for caring for it.