Varieties of hot peppers for open ground

Bitter peppers are grown less frequently in our country than sweet peppers, but they are extremely useful. Today on store shelves you can find a large number of interesting varieties, which are difficult to understand. A gardener who for the first time decides to grow one of the varieties of hot spicy peppers in open ground will have a difficult time: there is a large choice, all the peppers are beautiful. Which one to choose? Let's discuss this problem and tell you about the secrets of growing.

A few words about hot pepper

Pepper is a plant native to Central America, heat-loving and very tasty. It is divided into two subspecies:

• Bell pepper;
• hot pepper

Bitter differs from sweet in the presence of capsaicin, a substance that imparts bitterness. Both types of pepper are rich in vitamins A, B and C. The fruits are very healthy.

Sweet peppers will have notes of bitterness and vice versa.

On our shelves we find mainly varieties of sweet peppers, but hot, spicy peppers are also gaining more and more popularity.Based on the fact that the climate in most regions of Russia is quite harsh, growing pepper in open ground is not available to all summer residents. There are certain growing conditions and rules that should be followed.

Growing conditions

Currently, there are about 2000 varieties of hot pepper in the world. Some of them are extremely sharp and cause irritation on the skin even when touched.

If we compare sweet and bitter varieties, it is the latter that require more heat and sun. For the entire territory of the country, it is most advisable to grow this crop in seedlings due to the acute lack of a long warm period necessary for ripening. That's why seedlings come first hot pepper It grows on window sills, and then it is planted in open ground.

You can grow some varieties without seedlings, but only in the Crimea or Krasnodar Territory. In general, the conditions for growing hot peppers are no different from the conditions for sweet peppers:

• loose, light soils;
• high-quality watering;
• application of fertilizers;
• warm climate conditions.

Is it difficult to grow hot peppers yourself? No, it's not difficult. The summer resident will need to carefully read the information on the seed package and our practical advice.

Let's talk directly about hot pepper seeds. Arriving at the store, the gardener will need to make a choice in favor of one or several varieties. What should you pay attention to?

• On the speed of ripening (correlate it with the length of summer in your region);
• on the yield of the variety;
• resistance to viruses and diseases;
• for taste.

These are the main parameters for choosing seeds.

The best varieties of hot pepper

We will present several varieties of spicy peppers, which you can choose for self-cultivation in open ground. Also below will be a comparative table, according to which you can easily compare one variety with another.

So, the most common and familiar varieties and hybrids:

• Aladdin;
• Spicy decorative;
• Ukrainian;
• Aleksinsky;
• Aurora 81;
• Indian Spear;
• Red Fat Man;
• Astrakhan A-60;
• Astrakhansky 147;
• Mother-in-law's tongue;
• Elephant trunk;
• Indian elephant;
• Eagle Claw;
• Vizier;
• Rowan;
• Homer;
• Falcon beak;
• Scimitar;
• Shakira;
• Spagnola;
• Dragon;
• Miracle of the Moscow Region;
• Chinese fire;
• Superchili;
• Burning nose;
• Hungarian spicy.

Let's study the comparative characteristics of the above varieties.

comparison table

High yields, when at least 10 kilograms of pepper can be harvested from one square meter, are achieved due to large, heavy fruits. If the pepper is decorative, then such a yield cannot be achieved. A good overview of pepper varieties is presented in the video below. You can also get information on how to choose the right pepper for your beds.

Hot peppers can be canned, used as a seasoning, or eaten fresh. Everyone has their own preferences in this regard. Hot pepper grows well in open ground on the sunny southern side of the site, protected from wind and drafts.

Principle of variety selection

Seeds of varietal peppers purchased in stores germinate perfectly, since agricultural companies carefully select, disinfect and harden them. Of course, negligence cannot be completely ruled out, because even with the low cost of bags of seed, there are a large number of fakes on the market.

All hot peppers are divided into:

• decorative;
• standard.

Ornamental peppers are distinguished by their low growth and can be grown directly on the windowsill.

Standard hot peppers are much larger than decorative ones, they are less whimsical and demanding.

Imported varieties

They are just gaining popularity here; many gardeners order seeds via the Internet. The most popular varieties:

• Jalapeño;
• Tabasco;
• Habanero;
• Carolina Reaper;
• Hungarian.

These varieties are further classified into several types. They differ in color, pungency of taste, and plant height. When choosing a variety, you always pay attention to the degree of bitterness, because some people like peppers hotter, while others prefer only a piquant taste. Housewives give preference to aromatic varieties (we have specially marked them in the table), because it is very pleasant when hot peppers also have a bright aroma.

Variety "Habanero" This is a popular wrinkled pepper in Mexico. It is quite sharp and can grow in open ground. It takes 120 days from germination to technical ripeness. They are very demanding on lighting; the soil pH should be 6.5 units.

Jalapeno pepper" quite spicy and popular all over the world. It has a thick wall and beautiful bright fruits. Pepper is demanding of heat and light. It is early, from germination to technical ripeness it takes 95-100 days. It is recommended to grow it in open ground only in the south of the country. This is due to the fact that the plant cannot tolerate temperatures below +18 degrees.

Tabasco pepper well known to us for the sauce of the same name. He comes from Mexico, where he is very popular. The fruits are very hot, but at the same time aromatic and piquant. Ripening reaches 131 days, the pepper is very unpretentious and suitable for open ground. The temperature must not be allowed to drop below +15, otherwise you will not see the ovaries.

The famous variety "Hungarian" we have already described above. In fact, this variety is very widely represented in the world.As a rule, all its types are classified as early with a ripening period of up to 100 days and the possibility of growing in open ground. Loves light. Above, in the table, we described yellow hungarian pepper, the photo below shows the black one.

Carolina Reaper hot peppers are one of the most famous peppers in the world. It is famous not only for its appearance, but also for the fact that it is listed in the Guinness Book as the hottest on the planet. It was bred in the USA and it is impossible to taste it fresh. Most often it is used to create hot sauces. Ripens up to 145 days. Extremely photophilous.

The most bitter varieties

For those who care about the bitterness of the fruit, which residents of countries such as Thailand, Mexico, and Korea cannot do without, you should pay attention to the video below:

Bitterness is assessed using a special Scoville scale. You can sometimes find these varieties on the shelves of our stores. Sometimes they are ordered through online stores or brought from travel. The Carolina Reaper variety, which is considered one of the most bitter, is described above.

Of the hot pepper varieties we have presented for open ground domestic selection, the hottest are “Chinese Fire”, “Snake Gorynych”, “Falcon’s Beak” and “Indian Spear”. Let's talk in more detail about how to grow spicy peppers in open ground.

Growing hot peppers in open ground

Let’s touch on cultivation using the seedling method, which is suitable for any region. You also need to plant seeds wisely. You cannot sow them:

• on the new moon;
• on the full moon.

This is important because the seedlings will be lethargic and the yield will drop sharply. Seedlings should be planted either in separate cups or in peat tablets. Make sure the soil is suitable for pepper crops.It should have an acidity of no higher than 7.0, and also be light. The same rule applies to peat tablets.

The seedlings take a long time to grow and are additionally illuminated. Pepper needs light 12 hours a day. For some of our areas this is a lot. Experienced gardeners use special lamps for lighting. The air temperature should be above +22 degrees, but below +30. The optimal temperature is 27 degrees above zero. In such conditions, hot pepper will grow faster.

All information indicated on the seed package corresponds to the conditions in which this plant needs to be grown.

Seedlings are planted in open ground at the moment when they are sufficiently strong. It should have about 6 true leaves. The soil requirements are the same:

• looseness;
• ease;
• fertility.

The area for seedlings should be sunny. It cannot be buried in the ground; on the contrary, the beds are made high, and organic matter is introduced within a week, which will give the root system additional warmth. Watering is carried out with warm water; when it gets cold, it is necessary to cover the peppers. In principle, the process of growing peppers is very similar to growing tomatoes. Additionally, fertilizers are applied. After planting hot pepper in open ground, this process is carried out three times. You can use:

• organic fertilizers (not pure fresh manure);
• phosphate fertilizers;
• potash fertilizers;
• mineral fertilizers based on sodium (except chloride).

The plant reacts very positively to such comprehensive care from the gardener. If everything is done correctly, hot peppers in open ground will yield a large harvest.

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