Hybrid varieties of pepper have long occupied a special place in the beds of our country. Developed from two common varieties, they have increased yield and resistance to many diseases. In order for the harvest of this crop to not only please, but also pleasantly surprise the gardener, it is recommended to choose varieties according to the climate of the area. Bred in the Rostov region in the city of Shakhty by breeder Yuri Ivanovich Panchev, the variety was registered in 1981.
Characteristics of the variety
Winnie the Pooh pepper is an early ripening variety. From its first shoots to the fruits of technical maturity, about 100 days will pass. The Winnie the Pooh pepper variety has compact bushes with a height of up to 25 cm. They have a standard shape and branches tightly pressed to the trunk with a small amount of foliage.
It can be successfully grown in regular and film beds.
The fruits on the bushes are formed in bunches. In their shape they resemble a sharp cone. The color of their smooth surface changes depending on the degree of ripeness from light green to red. The Winnie the Pooh pepper is quite small in size: its length will be about 10 cm, and its weight will not exceed 50 grams. With this size, peppers of this variety have a rather thick pericarp pulp - about 6 mm.
The pepper tastes sweet and juicy. It is perfect for fresh consumption and for use in cooking.The dense pulp of the Winnie the Pooh variety makes it suitable for canning.
Sweet pepper Winnie the Pooh has excellent resistance to many diseases, especially Verticillium wilt and aphid damage. The excellent taste of these peppers goes well with their commercial qualities. They can be perfectly stored and handle transportation well. The variety is characterized by increased productivity, but due to the low weight of the fruit, it will not exceed 5 kg per square meter.
Recommendations for cultivation
In order for plants of this variety to produce a bountiful harvest, the seedlings must be properly prepared. It is recommended to start in February, but before that the seeds should be checked and treated:
- 1-2 weeks before planting, pepper seeds are placed on a damp cloth. This is done to weed out dead seeds. After 1-1.5 weeks, all seeds suitable for planting will swell and hatch.
- All swollen and hatched seeds are placed in a light solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour, and then washed with warm water.
The seeds prepared in this way are planted in prepared containers and covered with film. After germination, the film is removed so that the plants can fully develop.
Peat pots are great for this. You can also use empty milk cartons.
For normal growth of seedlings, it is necessary to ensure a temperature of 20 to 24 degrees. In this case, nighttime values should be several degrees lower than daytime ones. Watering the seedlings is carried out as the soil dries and always with warm water. Hardening off plants gives excellent results.To do this, the night temperature is brought to 11-13 degrees. This procedure will allow young peppers not to stretch out and adapt better when planted in a permanent place.
Time for planting ready-made sweet pepper seedlings:
- Young plants can be planted in the greenhouse in late April - early May;
- Sweet peppers are planted in open beds no earlier than the beginning of June.
Further care for peppers consists of:
- Water with warm water. The regularity of watering depends on the weather, but at least 2 times a week;
- Regular weeding and loosening;
- Fertilizing with any mineral or organic fertilizers. Their frequency should not exceed 2 times a month.
You can learn more about caring for sweet peppers from the video:
If these recommendations are followed, the Winnie the Pooh variety can give the gardener an excellent harvest, which can be harvested until the end of September.
The pepper fruits are really small, so this variety is not for everyone. But “Winnie the Pooh” is well suited for canning in glass jars.
P.S. The article does not say anything about the root system, which is very important for the proper cultivation of peppers. Since “Winnie the Pooh” is planted thickly, what volume of soil for the roots is needed for each plant in a common box (on the balcony) so that the plants do not oppress each other and produce a good harvest?