Early ripe and high-yielding pepper hybrid "Kalif" (Khalif) from Japanese breeders

Pepper Caliph (Caliph) is cold-resistant and unpretentious. Hybrid suitable for growing in regions with extreme weather changes, heat and drought. It is planted in greenhouses, hotbeds or in the open field. Pepper makes delicious and healthy dishes - the pulp is tender and sugary.

Consider further the description of the Caliph pepper and learn how to grow a rich crop on your site.

What is this pepper

Sweet Kalif pepper is the result of the labors of Japanese breeders. Thanks to its taste, it has become widespread throughout the world.

F1 hybrid

The hybrid shows resistance to the main diseases of the culture - tobacco mosaic, powdery mildew, root rot. Unpretentious, rarely exposed to pests and weeds.

Differs in long-term fruiting, sets fruit in any climatic conditions.

Distinctive features

Early ripe, ripens in 90 days from the moment the first shoots appear. Miniature bushes, about 50-60 cm in height. The leaves are green, medium in size. Shoots are short, powerful.

Fruit characteristics and yield

The fruits are large, the weight of one varies from 180 to 210 g. The shape is prismatic, elongated. The wall thickness is 9 mm, which allows the peppers to be used for long-term storage. The pulp is fleshy, sweet.

It is universal in application, the yield is stable - 8-10 fruits from one bush.

Preparation for growing

Seed material is bought in trusted stores, when buying, they study the expiration date of the seeds, the manufacturer, the integrity of the packaging. At home, seeds are examined for defects, and specimens with spots or scratches are thrown away. The remaining seeds are checked for germination - they are immersed in a jar of water and salt (50 g of salt for 1 liter of water) and stirred clockwise. The seeds that have sunk to the bottom are used for planting.

Disinfection of seeds is carried out using a solution of potassium permanganate, aloe juice or Bordeaux liquid. The seeds are placed in a tissue bag and immersed in liquid for 20 minutes, taken out and dried on a clean towel. It is also disinfected with the help of the oven - placed on a baking sheet and removed in the oven for an hour at a temperature of + 180 ° C.

Important! After disinfection, the material is germinated - placed in wet gauze and removed to a warm place for two days. To accelerate development, the growth stimulator "Kornevin" is added.

The Kalif hybrid is grown in seedlings, so the container and soil are prepared in advance. Any dry and clean container is suitable - flower pots, peat cups, wooden boxes. As soil, use ready-made soil from a store or land from a garden. The soil is fertilized with manure, compost or humus, clean river sand is added for looseness.

Growing seedlings

Seedlings are prepared at the end of March. The containers are filled with soil, grooves are made 1 cm deep. 1-2 seeds are placed in each hole, sprinkled with earth on top and watered with warm water.

The seedlings are stored in a warm and sunny place, sweet peppers are a thermophilic culture. With a lack of natural sunlight, phytolamps are bought.

Watered seedlings as the soil dries, about once every 4-6 days. It is important to prevent waterlogging of the earth, which causes fungi and viruses. Two weeks after planting, feeding with manure or chicken droppings is organized.The next time the fertilizer is applied after 15 days, mineral components are used - superphosphate, potassium salt, ammonium nitrate.

Important! If the pepper is planted in small pots or cups, in a month the gardeners will organize a pick, that is, they transplant the seedlings into a larger container. If this is not done, then the roots will not have enough room for growth and development. Dive sprouts carefully so as not to damage fragile roots and leaves.

Planting pepper

The pepper beds are prepared in the fall. The best predecessors are peas, corn, cabbage. It is not advised to plant a vegetable after potatoes or tomatoes. At the end of October, the earth is dug up, lumps and weeds are removed, and manure is introduced. In April, the soil is re-dug up, cleaned of debris and foliage. Recommended planting scheme for pepper Kalif 50x70 cm.

A cloudy, windless morning is chosen for landing. Seedlings are placed in pits 3-5 cm deep, the base of the stem is slammed with earth and sprinkled with peat chips. After planting, the pepper is watered, straw is laid on the beds - it retains moisture and nourishes young plants. In the first week, the bushes are covered with foil or thin glass to protect them from wind and frost.

Important! Before planting in the greenhouse, wipe all walls and doors with a solution of succinic acid, water the ground with Bordeaux liquid, and ventilate the structure.

Further care

Pepper Caliph requires timely care. It consists in feeding, watering and loosening the beds:

1. About 2 liters of warm water are consumed per bush. In rainy weather, the beds are watered once a week, in dry and hot weather - once every 4-5 days. If the leaves curl, then the plant does not have enough moisture, the volume of water is increased. The best time for the procedure is early morning or evening to avoid sunburn and evaporation.
2. Loosening helps to get rid of weeds, to prevent their appearance. The procedure makes the soil lighter and more airy, improves the flow of oxygen to the roots. The beds are loosened once a week to a depth of 5-10 cm. In addition to bushes, attention is also paid to the aisles, where weeds often appear.
3. During the ripening period, Kalif pepper is fertilized 2-3 times. Organic and mineral complexes alternate: potassium, phosphorus, droppings, urea, ash. The procedure is carried out every 15 days, after watering the ground. Fertilizers improve the taste of fruits, their presentation, protect against diseases and pests. From foliar dressings, spraying with Bordeaux liquid or nettle infusion is used.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

When growing a hybrid, it is important to observe the dosage of the introduced microelements. An overabundance or deficiency of them leads to leaf fall and fruit spoilage. When feeding, do not use fertilizers that contain chlorine - for example, ammonium chloride. It gets into the root soil and blocks the access of nutrients.

Preference is given to phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and nitrogen-containing substances. During flowering, they focus on organic matter - they are fed with liquid manure.

Interesting! Top dressing based on herbs is effective. A remedy is prepared from the flowers and foliage of plantain, hops and horsetail. Plants are crushed, poured with boiling water and left for several hours. After cooling, the bushes are watered at the root or sprayed with leaves from a spray bottle.

If, after flowering, the ovaries fall off, and the fruits stop growing, the bushes are treated with a solution of boric acid. It nourishes the roots and stems, strengthens the immune system and stimulates further development.

Typical diseases and pests

Despite the resistance of the hybrid to fungi and infections, with improper care it can get sick.

The most dangerous diseases:

1. Brown spot (cladosporium)... It occurs due to contaminated soil, non-observance of crop rotation rules, heat and high humidity. The stems and leaves are covered with brown spots, which increase in size over time.As a prophylaxis, spraying with milk whey is used, for treatment, a professional preparation "Zaslon" is used. The product is introduced strictly in accordance with the dosage on the package.
2. Black bacterial spot affects mature plants during fruiting. For prevention, use a soapy solution or copper sulfate. If bacterial spotting appears, then the affected bushes are removed from the garden and burned away from the site. The remaining plants are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Colorado potato beetle is isolated from pests. The striped insect affects both young seedlings and adult bushes. Larvae and adults are dangerous. The Colorado potato beetle is able to live underground for up to two years, tolerates cold and low temperatures. It feeds on plant sap, which is why the pepper lacks vitamins for development. To cope with the pest help drugs "Barrier" or "Tornado".

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The advantages include high productivity, unpretentiousness, immunity to diseases and pests. Peppers are distinguished by their presentation; Kalif is grown for personal consumption and for sale. Vegetables are stored and transported for a long time, do not lose their beneficial qualities and taste. This hybrid is planted outdoors, in greenhouses or greenhouses.

Interesting! Sweet Caliph is prized for its versatility in application. The glossy red fruits are used to make vegetable stews, stuffed dishes, snacks and salads. Moderately juicy pulp is harmoniously combined with meat and fish dishes, peppers are used fresh and pickle for the winter in jars.

The only negative is that the seedlings do not tolerate picking well. This can be avoided: the seeds are immediately planted in large containers, in which the pepper seedlings develop before planting in open ground.

Reviews

What do Russian gardeners think about Kalif? Here are a few reviews from popular Internet forums:

Marina, Izhevsk: "I love pepper Khalifa for a long time. I am attracted by compact bushes, they decorate the garden. I plant in open ground, fertilize with manure and potassium. The fruiting period is extended, vegetables are well stored. "

Peter, Moscow region: “I didn't like the Japanese Caliph. The bushes developed slowly, although I prepared the seedlings and dived in time. The fruits are large, but watery to the taste. I am disappointed".

Elizaveta, Krasnodar: “I planted a red-fruited hybrid Kalif for the first time. I was pleased with the large fruits and sugary pulp - I have never met sweeter than pepper. This season I planted only one bed, next I will take three for Caliph. Fresh taste is amazing. "

Conclusion

Appetizing fruits will decorate any site. The hybrid is unpretentious in care, the main thing is to water and fertilize the plants on time. To obtain a rich harvest, they are planted with seedlings, having previously cleared the beds from debris and weeds.

Caliph responds favorably to mineral and organic feeding, has immunity to diseases. Harvested in August, when the peppers are firm and shiny and the stalk is dry. Kalif is used fresh or for making soups, side dishes and salads.