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Until relatively recently, some 20 years ago, bell peppers in Russia were associated exclusively with the color red. Moreover, all gardeners were well aware that green peppers are only at the stage of technical maturity, and then, when ripe, they should turn one of the shades of red. At the moment, the number of varieties and hybrids of sweet peppers officially registered in Russia exceeds several hundred. And among them there are fruits of various shades: yellow, orange, green, white, and even brown and purple.
The famous 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 Mama - orange;
- Big Boy – red-burgundy;
- Big Girl – orange-brown.
Big Mama sweet pepper 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 have a positive effect on a person’s psychological mood.
That is, the mere sight of orange peppers evokes a sensation of sweetness in most people. But what is responsible for such a bright color of the vegetable is beta-carotene, which can be converted in the human body under the influence of enzymes into vitamin A. In addition, orange and yellow peppers contain the largest amount of rutin or vitamin P. This substance can strengthen the walls of blood vessels and make them more elastic.
But perhaps the most important thing that distinguishes orange and yellow pepper fruits is their increased content of potassium and phosphorus compared to their counterparts. But potassium does a lot for the proper functioning of the heart muscle, while phosphorus is responsible for the normal functioning of the kidneys, the formation of bone tissue, and healthy cell growth.
Thus, by growing and consuming orange and yellow peppers, you can significantly improve your well-being and even improve your mood.
Description of the variety
It’s logical to start describing the Big Mama pepper variety with its origin. Moreover, it was bred relatively recently, about 7-8 years ago by scientific breeders of the Aelita seed farming company. In 2012, this variety was officially registered in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia with recommendations for cultivation in all regions of Russia.
It is quite suitable for growing both in open ridges and in protected ground.
For example, in the Moscow region, to obtain a good harvest of this variety, it is better to use film tunnels, at least for early planting of plants in the ground at the end of May or at the beginning of June.
Big Mama pepper bushes have a semi-spreading shape and reach a height of 60-70 cm, however, in closed ground conditions the bushes can grow up to 100 cm. The leaves are medium-sized, quite smooth, dark green in color.
Based on the time of ripening, some gardeners classify Big Mama peppers as early-ripening varieties, others as mid-ripening. We can assume 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, preparing various dishes and just for eating, but their color is still light green. In order for the fruits to color completely, it is necessary for another 15-20 days to pass.
The Big Mama variety is famous for its good yield - from one square meter of planting you can harvest 7 kg of fruit or even more. True, these figures relate rather to growing peppers under cover and in a greenhouse.
The Big Mama variety is resistant to many nightshade diseases; pests also rarely bother it. But preventive measures will never be superfluous.
Fruit characteristics
It is difficult to dispute the attractiveness of the Big Mama pepper fruits; they captivate at first sight. But what other characteristics are characteristic of these peppers?
- The shape of the peppers can be called cuboid, although since they are slightly elongated in length, they more likely resemble a cylinder, slightly flattened on the sides. Some gardeners call these barrel peppers. Their growth form is drooping.
- The surface of the skin is smooth, attractive with a strong gloss. There is slight ribbing on the sides.
- The color of the fruit is attractive with a juicy orange color; in a state of technical maturity it is dark green. But compared to many mid-season varieties, peppercorns color quite quickly.
- The fruits grow large; it is not uncommon for the weight of one fruit to be 200 grams. On average, their weight is 120-150 grams.
- The walls are thick and dense, their thickness reaches 10-12 mm, on average 7-8 mm. The pulp is fleshy and juicy.
- In terms of taste characteristics, the fruits of this variety deserve an exceptionally excellent rating. It is best to eat them fresh, straight from the bush. But peppercorns are universal in purpose. They make excellent salads and stuffed dishes, and you can also use them to prepare many delicious and very beautiful-looking preparations.
- The fruits keep well fresh and are suitable for freezing for the winter.
Features of cultivation
Big Mama peppers, like any other varieties of sweet peppers in the climatic conditions of our country, require a preliminary seedling period. But growing pepper seedlings is not at all so difficult if you comply with the basic requirements of this crop - most of all, it needs a lot of light, especially in the first stages of development, a sufficient amount of heat and moderate but uniform watering.
Pepper seeds of this variety germinate quite quickly, for some even after 4-5 days, but on average they will take 8-10 days to fully germinate. To increase the percentage of germination and ensure more uniform seedlings, it is advisable to soak the seeds for several hours in any growth stimulant before planting. At home, you can use aloe juice or a solution of honey in water, as well as any of the store-bought preparations, such as zircon, epin, novosil and others.
Sowing pepper seeds of this variety for seedlings can be done in February if you plan to then plant the plants in a greenhouse. Or in early March, if the pepper is planned to be grown in open ground. In the period before the appearance of the first two true leaves of the seedlings, it is imperative to provide it with 12-14 hours of lighting. Typically, fluorescent or LED light bulbs are used for these purposes.
From the end of March, pepper seedlings should already have enough natural light, which they can receive while being 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 location according to a 35 by 50 cm pattern. It is important not to bury the plants when replanting. If there is a possible threat of low temperatures, the plants can be covered on top with non-woven material or film attached to the arches.
Regular fertilizing and watering are mandatory conditions for good yield of the Big Mama variety, since the formation of large fruits requires a large amount of nutrients.
Reviews from gardeners
The Big Mama pepper variety enjoys great well-deserved popularity, so there are quite a lot of reviews on it and most of them are positive.
Conclusion
Big Mama pepper is a successful combination of beauty, excellent taste, productivity and early ripeness. Therefore, it is not surprising that it quickly gained popularity among gardeners.
Hello, this marking appeared relatively recently. What it means is not known for certain. We do not want to give false information and deliberately mislead you. Try asking your question to seed producers or seed sales websites.
Good afternoon ! Can you explain what the Frus marking on the back of the package of BIG MAMA sweet pepper means? We know this is what hybrids are called.