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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 important step to a rich harvest is the correct choice of seeds. Each variety has its own characteristics and imposes certain requirements on growing conditions. For example, sweet pepper varieties thick-walled for the Moscow region you need to choose greenhouse or early ripening. They are guaranteed to bear fruit during the short summer.
Review of the best varieties of pepper for the Moscow region
When choosing pepper seeds, you should focus on what time you expect to get the harvest. According to gardeners near Moscow, early ripening varieties and hybrids are the best for growing. Their fruits are ready for consumption in less than 100 days after germination.
Fidelio
Fidelio fruits are pale yellow, almost white. The taste is excellent - the flesh is juicy, thick and sweet. The vegetative period from germination to ripeness lasts 90-100 days. By the time of ripening, each fruit reaches almost 180 g of weight.
Rhapsody F1
An early ripening hybrid with high productivity.The fruits ripen 75-80 days after planting the seedlings in the ground. Fleshy fruits grow up to 16-18 cm in length. The wall thickness is more than 7 mm. During the ripening process, the fruit changes its color from green to bright red. The hybrid is highly resistant to fungal and viral diseases.
Orange miracle
This variety of pepper begins to bear fruit 80-85 days after transplanting the picked seedlings into greenhouse. On open ground, fruits may set a little later, depending on weather conditions.
The bright orange fruits of the pepper have a tetrahedral, cube-shaped shape and by the time they are fully ripened they can reach 10-11 cm in height with a wall thickness of about 10 mm. Pepper Orange Miracle It looks beautiful not only in the garden, but also in salads and homemade preparations. The bush grows up to 70-90 cm in height. A plant grown from the seeds of the hybrid Orange Miracle F1 is no different in appearance and taste from varietal seeds of the same name. But the hybrid is more resistant to viral and fungal diseases, tolerates replanting more easily, and the percentage of seed germination is much higher.
Atlantic F1
The hybrid grows well and bears fruit both in a greenhouse and in open ground. It is easily recognized by its tall (up to 120 cm) spreading bushes, which are strewn with large, slightly elongated multi-colored fruits. During the ripening process, the fruits change color several times - from green to crimson-red. With good care, it is pleased with its high yield - about 5 kg per square meter. m. Suitable for preparing salads, retains taste during heat treatment and canning.
Winnie the Pooh
An early-ripening pepper variety that is ideal for growing in closed greenhouses or film tunnels.The plant is not tall - only 35-40 cm, with a small number of leaves. Productivity 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. Pepper Winnie the Pooh suitable for home cooking and does not lose its taste during long-term storage. It can be successfully grown indoors balcony or windowsill.
Funtik
A productive early ripening variety of pepper with large red fruits. The bushes are low and compact. Funtik pepper is universal - it bears fruit well in greenhouses and in open ground. From the moment the seedlings are transplanted into the ground, they begin to bear fruit on days 78-82. On one plant during the entire ripening period, 15-20 fruits are formed. The variety is adapted for cultivation in harsh climatic conditions, and in areas near Moscow it can bear fruit until October. The fruits of pepper Funtik large, thick-walled, good in taste and aromatic.
Tempo F1
An early ripening universal hybrid with good yield. It bears fruit 80–90 days after sowing the seeds. Pepper fruits are large and glossy. During the period of technical ripeness, the fruits are pale yellow. By the time they are fully ripe, 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 70x25 scheme) is 8 kg per 1 sq. m, and in an open garden bed - 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, Cardinal, suitable for growing in heated greenhouses.Seedlings for them can be sown at the beginning of February, and at the end of March the seedlings are planted in a greenhouse. The first pepper fruits ripen at the end of May. Each bush is harvested up to 5 times per season. The lifespan of these varieties is quite long - the plants bear fruit until late autumn.
Russian 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 cultivation not only in the Moscow region, but also in the Urals and Siberia. But in unprotected soil, the yield decreases sharply or the plant does not bear fruit at all.
Varieties for open ground
In open ground you can try to grow pepper varieties such as Corvette, Lemon Miracle or Sweet Chocolate - the unusual coloring of these fruits looks very picturesque and will decorate any area. Fruit variety CorvetteWhen they reach ripeness, they 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 tolerates adverse weather conditions well. The fruits are bright yellow, almost lemon-colored, with thick pulp, delicious both fresh and canned. Sweet chocolate intended mainly for salads, since the fruits are not large, but juicy and aromatic. Their color is also interesting - as they grow, the color changes from dark green to chocolate, and the flesh inside is bright red.
These pepper varieties are excellent for growing in the middle zone, as they are adapted to a changeable climate and short and humid summers.The plants are low-growing, so you can save space in the garden by planting several bushes in large flowerpots right outside.
From each plant per season you can collect 3-4 kg of aromatic, fleshy fruits, which are well suited for canning and preparing various dishes. And in a dark, cool place, the 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 using the seedling method with picking seedlings. This method helps to identify weak and diseased plants before planting in a greenhouse, because the sprouts go through several stages of sorting before entering their permanent “place of residence.”
Germination of seeds
Soaking pepper seeds in warm water for several days allows you to determine the percentage of germination. Seeds that have sprouted roots before sowing will sprout much faster. Before soaking, you need to select the largest and fullest seeds.
Sowing seeds
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 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.
Picking seedlings
This procedure helps strengthen the root system of the pepper and prepare the plant for subsequent replanting. During the process of picking (planting sprouts in separate pots), weak seedlings are rejected.
Picking is an important step in growing peppers. This culture is quite capricious and has a hard time getting used to new conditions.Distributing the seedlings into separate containers will provide more free space for the roots and sprouts themselves. In order not to injure the roots, the seedling is transplanted into a garden bed along with a lump of earth. This is convenient to do if you plant the seedlings in disposable containers made of thin plastic, which are easy to remove.
Thus, by the time the seedlings are planted, only the strongest and healthiest plants remain, which will delight you with a good harvest before the onset of frost.
This video describes in detail the process of transplanting peppers into a greenhouse.
The process of transplanting pepper seedlings into open ground is slightly different from greenhouse agricultural technology. For a garden bed in an open area, it is recommended to choose pepper varieties with medium or late ripening. The first time after transplanting, it is better to cover the bed with peppers at night. For this purpose, metal arcs and thick polyethylene film are used. When the air temperature is below 15 degrees, the film tunnel is not opened. It is removed only after consistently warm weather has established itself.
