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Sweet capsicum is a representative of the nightshade family and a “relative” of potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes, which imposes certain restrictions on growing these crops in one area. In particular, peppers should not be planted where nightshades grew last season. In addition to the depleted composition of the soil, pathogens remain in it that can harm pepper bushes.
Theoretically, there are four cultivated types of pepper. In practice, three of them are cultivated only in the countries of Central and South America, where these species grow well on their own in the wild. All over the world, only one type of pepper has spread, from which both bitter and sweet varieties originate.
The walls of the pod are used as food for sweet peppers. It is the thickness of the walls, which is also called the pericarp, that determines the value and profitability of the variety. Thick-walled fruits are considered to have a pericarp with a thickness of 6 mm or more.
Thick-walled varieties can be with large or medium fruits. A lot of large-fruited thick-walled peppers are cube-shaped.
The best varieties of large-fruited thick-walled pepper
Hercules
Mid-season, requiring three months from the moment of planting in a permanent place to fruiting. The fruits are large, red in color, clearly expressed cuboid shape. The size of the pod is 12×11 cm. The weight of the pepper can reach 350 g, the thickness of the pericarp is up to 1 cm. It tastes very sweet, regardless of whether it is harvested green at technical ripeness or red when fully ripe. Very fruitful.
The advantages include good keeping quality, versatility of use (suitable both fresh and for all types of preservation), resistance to common pepper diseases, good formation of ovaries at low temperatures.
Seedlings are sown for seedlings at the end of March, they are planted in a permanent place at the end of May, the crop is harvested in August.
White gold
Especially large-fruited thick-walled pepper of the Siberian selection. The fruits reach a weight of 450 g. The pericarp is up to 1 cm thick. Cuboid fruits of such gigantic sizes grow on a bush only 50 cm high.
To get a good harvest, bushes are planted at the rate of 5 plants per m². It is obligatory to fertilize this variety with fertilizers, since the plant requires a lot of nutrients to form large peppers.
Seeds for seedlings are sown at the end of March. After two months, the seedlings are planted in the ground. The variety is universal, it can be planted both in an open garden bed and in a greenhouse. Harvesting begins in July and ends in August.
Siberian format
A new hybrid bred in Siberia. Belongs to the group of mid-season. The bush is powerful, semi-standard, 80 cm high.
The fruits are large, cube-shaped, inside the pepper is divided into 3-4 chambers. Ripe red peppers. The usual size of the fetus is 12×10 cm. The thickness of the pericarp is 1 cm.
With the fruit weight of 350-400 g declared by breeders, peppers can grow up to 18×12 cm and weigh half a kilogram. But such large sizes are achievable only in greenhouse conditions. Up to 15 fruits are formed on one bush, with a total weight of 3,5 kg.
The variety is demanding on the composition and moisture of the soil. For high yields, it is necessary to observe the regime of fertilizing and watering. On poorer soil, the variety can give a good harvest, but the fruits will be small. 6 bushes are planted per square meter.
Of the minuses: seed germination of 70%.
The sun of Italy
Variety with a growing season of 4 months. The bush is low, only 50 cm. But the fruit of this variety is very large, with good care it reaches 600 g. The thickness of the pericarp is 7 mm. Grows in greenhouses and outdoors. On open beds, the size of the fruit is slightly smaller: up to 500 g. A variety of universal purposes. Delicate fragrant pulp is suitable for salads, preservation and cooking. Well suited for commercial cultivation.
Bel Goy
Late-ripening, with very large fruits, reaching a weight of 600 g. Suitable for growing in greenhouses and open ground. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that large measurements of fruits and a bush are more likely to be greenhouse plants. In open ground, the size of the bush and peppers will be somewhat smaller.
The bush height of 150 cm that occurs refers to greenhouses, while the bush height of 120 cm is the height of the plant in open ground. Also, fruits in open ground are unlikely to grow to 600 g, the usual weight of pepper in an open garden is 500 g. Which is also a lot.
The variety has a good formation of ovaries and a consistently high yield.
Ural thick-walled
An early ripe pepper hybrid specially bred for the northern regions. The hybrid forms giant fruits 18 cm in size with a pericarp thickness of 10 mm. Ripe red peppers.
The manufacturer recommends this variety for growing in greenhouses and outdoors. Such properties add to the attractiveness of the hybrid, given that it is designed for growing in the rather harsh conditions of the Siberian region. In addition, the hybrid is resistant to major pepper diseases.
Empress F1
The hybrid ripens in 110 days, giving dark red peppers. In the stage of technical ripeness, peppers are green. Bush height up to 0,8 m, compact. The weight of one fruit is up to 200 g, the wall thickness is 1 cm. Up to 12 peppers can ripen on a bush at the same time. Hybrid yield up to 8 kg/m²
Blondie F1
Selected by the Swiss company Syngenta AG, one of the largest seed producers. Claimed as early maturing, but, given the country of origin, is unlikely to be suitable for open ground in the northern regions of Our Country.
Peppers are four-chamber, rather large. The weight of the pepper reaches 200 g, the thickness of the pericarp is 8 mm. Ripe peppers are golden yellow in color. The “green” fruit has a pale fawn color.
Of the advantages, there is resistance to viruses, to stressful weather conditions, good formation of ovaries in hot conditions. General purpose variety.
Dennis F1
A popular and well-established variety for several years. Well suited for the northern regions, as the growing season is only 90 days. Bush 0,7 m high, resistant to tobacco mosaic. Can be grown indoors and outdoors.
Large-fruited. Red fruits have the shape of a parallelogram with dimensions of 18×10 cm. The pericarp is 9 mm. The weight of pepper declared by the manufacturer is 400 g.
Gardeners’ observations of “Denis F1” for several years showed that in a greenhouse a bush grows up to one meter and brings 6-7 fruits. Very interesting information came from gardeners about the weight of the fruit. It is realistic to achieve the fruit weight declared by the manufacturer if only 3-4 ovaries are left on the bush and fed weekly with universal fertilizers. A general pattern was noticed: the more ovaries, the smaller the fruits. But whether to achieve large fruits with the help of fertilizers or to collect smaller peppers in larger quantities is up to the owner of the bush.
Some Growing Secrets
Experienced summer residents prefer to plant “Denis F1” under a film that is removed with the onset of hot weather, as it is too hot in greenhouses for this variety. But the claims about disease resistance are confirmed.
In general, agricultural technology is the same as for other varieties. Small nuances are that bushes of this variety are planted at a distance of 0,5 m from each other. Being large-fruited, the variety needs additional fertilizers, which must be added strictly according to the instructions so as not to “overfeed” the plants.
Growth stimulants are suitable for seedlings. Bushes planted in a permanent place are fertilized three times: 2 weeks after planting, during the formation of ovaries, during the ripening period.
Atlas
A very mysterious variety, I must admit. A number of firms position it as a hybrid. Other firms describe it as a varietal, that is, one from which seeds can be left for the next year. Apparently, it will be necessary to find out a hybrid or variety grown in your summer cottage experimentally. The growing season for this pepper also varies depending on the manufacturer from super-early to mid-ripening.
However, the difference in ripening time may depend on what is meant by this in manufacturing firms. So, “early ripe” for a Siberian firm will be “super-early” for a southern one, and “mid-ripening” for southerners will turn out to be “early ripe” for northerners.
There is a plus in the variety of manufacturing companies of this variety. You can choose seeds adapted specifically to your climate zone.
General characteristics given by firms to pepper: large fruits, excellent taste and high stable yield.
In general, “Atlant” has positive reviews and is one of the best large-fruited thick-walled varieties of peppers. It is also supported by the interest shown in it by farmers who grow peppers for sale.
The growing season for this variety is only 75 days. In this connection, it is classified as a super-early ripe variety.
The bushes are compact, so they are planted according to the scheme 40×40 cm. The variety is high-yielding, giving huge red fruits up to 22 cm long with a pericarp thickness of 10 mm. Fruit weight 150 g.
Some firms claim that the variety is disease resistant.
Some features
At Atlanta, the seeds must be etched in a solution of potassium permanganate before planting, as the producers do not process the seeds.
When planting in a permanent place, the roots of seedlings are best treated with a stimulant for root growth.
Bushes do not require tying. But mandatory feeding is required during the growing season, if there is a desire to get large fruits.
In the case of sending peppers for storage, the fruits are removed after they acquire a green color. Otherwise, leave to ripen on the bush.
In the northern regions, it is recommended to grow the variety in shelters made of non-woven material. In this case, the fruits ripen well on the bushes.
Atlanta is characterized by high productivity both in the open air and in greenhouses, and good keeping quality. Its taste is always excellent, regardless of the resulting size of the fruit and the place of cultivation.