Combining opposite tastes and a flower-like amazing variety of bell pepper
Today, no one is surprised by the variety of colors of peppers, the shape is also different. Bell pepper, which belongs to the group of rare berry peppers, stands out favorably among others varieties.
Read about its features, pros and cons in our article.
The content of the article
What kind of pepper is this
Bell pepper variety differs from others in an interesting shape of the fruit, which resembles flower buds. This species is gaining more and more popularity in Russia, becoming an exotic decoration for garden plots.
Characteristics and description of the variety
The bell belongs to the late-ripening varieties.
It is quite tall, up to 2 m tall, a spreading plant, the leaves and stem of which are slightly covered with fluff. Fruit of the original shape: similar to a bell flower. At first they are dark green, a little later orange, and when fully ripe they become bright red.
From one Bell bush, you can harvest about 2 kg of the crop. You can grow this variety of pepper outdoors, in a greenhouse or in a pot.
Distinctive features
The variety differs from others not only in the interesting form of its fruits, but also in the unusual flavor combination. The part of the fruit near the tail is bitter, reminiscent of hot peppers, and below, where the fruit looks like a flower, its walls thicken and taste sweet and sour.
Characteristics of fruits, yield
The fruits of this pepper are smooth and shiny. Their mass depends on the growing conditions and reaches 70-90 g. The walls are fleshy, about 4 mm thick. The number of cameras is 2-3. The yield is relatively high. The fruits reach maturity 130-140 days after planting the seeds. From 1 m² you can harvest 5 kg of fruit.
Preparation for growing
Preparing for cultivation of the Bell variety is no different from other types of pepper. It is better not to sprout fresh seeds, but those that were collected 5 years ago. Sowing seedlings begins in February, referring to the lunar calendar.
Start by soaking the seeds in Epin or Fitosporin. Sometimes they are pretreated with a manganese solution. Then the seeds are wrapped in a wet cloth and plastic wrap and left in a warm place until the sprouts hatch.
The soil for planting is pre-heated to 20 ° C.
Growing seedlings
Bell pepper does not tolerate picking, so it is better to sow seeds immediately in separate cups. Nutrient soil with sand and peat is added to the seedling containers, watered with "Fitosporin" and the germinated seeds are carefully laid out. Sprinkle the top with 1.5-2 cm of earth, cover with a lid, leave in a warm place. When sprouts appear, the trays are rearranged on a well-lit windowsill.
Attention! Protect the seedlings from drafts, otherwise the plants may die.
Planting pepper
It is possible to plant peppers in open ground when the threat of frost has passed, and the ground warms up well. By that time, up to 12 leaves will appear on the seedling. The growing area should be well lit and sheltered from the wind. It is best if legumes, cabbage or cucumbers grew there in the previous year.
Seedlings should be transplanted in the evening or in cloudy weather. Bushes are planted at a distance of at least 45-50 cm from each other.
Add a handful of ash to the planting holes, and after planting, pour it with a manganese solution.The land around the bushes can be covered with mulch to protect it from weeds and drying out.
If the weather worsens, the planting can be covered with foil.
Further care
Subsequent care for bell peppers is almost the same as other varieties. Here are some of the features:
- in the bushes, it is necessary to pinch the lateral shoots growing below the first ovary;
- watered sparingly and only with warm water, so as not to stress the plants;
- fertilize Bell 3 times per season - 2 weeks after planting, add a mullein diluted with water 1:10, watered with a solution of wood ash during flowering, after 3 weeks add minerals (potassium, phosphorus and calcium);
- before flowering, it is recommended to carry out treatment against pests;
- pinch all the shoots a month before harvest to allow the pepper to ripen;
- You can also harvest green, such fruits are sweeter. Sharpness appears in them as the color changes to red. This happens literally in a week.
Important! The variety is perennial, the trunk of the plant becomes rough over time and becomes covered with bark. When the temperature drops, the foliage falls off. For the winter period, the pepper must be transplanted into a tub and transferred to a warm room. With the arrival of spring, buds will reappear on the Bell.
Features of growing varieties and possible difficulties
Those wishing to grow bell peppers may face some difficulties. The main one is that seeds are rarely found on sale, it is better to look for them from gardeners who have already grown this variety.
Bushes can reach a height of 2 m, so the beds need to be equipped with supports so that not too strong stems can lean on them.
If a perennial culture is planned, then you need to plant seedlings in tubs with holes at the bottom. This will allow you to take the plants outside in the warm season, and with the first frost, take them to the warmth.
The variety is suitable for year-round fruiting if grown in a greenhouse.
Typical diseases and pests
Most frequent illnessaffecting bell peppers:
- Gray rot covers the leaves with gray spots. In advanced cases, the plant dies. At the initial stages of the lesion, you have to cut off the infected branches, and if the disease has spread to the entire bush, it is necessary to treat it with the fungicide "Gamair" (10 tablets are added to 10 liters of water).
- Anthracosis covers the plant with brown spots and causes death. In the fight against this disease, a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid can help. Regular loosening of the soil serves as a preventive measure.
- Blackleg - a disease caused by a fungus and leading to blackening of the stem. For treatment use "Fitosporin-M".
Bell pepper is recognized as the most common pest of pepper aphid. If the plant is affected by this insect, urgently prepare the following solution:
- Boil 10 g of ground pepper and 200 g of tobacco with boiling water and pour into a 10-liter bucket of water;
- rub a little laundry soap there;
- spray the bush and soil around with the resulting solution.
If the pepper is attacked by the Colorado potato beetle, celandine will help. Beans planted nearby repels these insects.
For spider mites, an infusion of several bulbs and heads of garlic, aged for a week in a bucket of water, is effective. The resulting liquid is sprayed with pepper bushes.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages of this piquant pepper are as follows:
- long-term;
- can be grown in soil and in pots;
- high yield;
- can be eaten raw and after heat treatment;
- contains B vitamins, vitamin C and serotonin - the hormone of joy.
The disadvantage is that the fruit ripens for a long time - about 5 months.
Attention! Fresh bell peppers are recommended to be used with caution by people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Fruit application
Due to its extraordinary taste, Bell pepper is eaten both fresh and canned.It can be stewed, stuffed, added to salads and sauces, and used to decorate dishes.
The unusual shape of the fruit will adorn any vegetable marinades-assorted.
Reviews
We bring to your attention several reviews of summer residents about this variety.
Evelina, Krasnodar: «The taste is undoubtedly interesting, but I did not notice a strong pungency. The pulp is rather spicy and sweet. All the pungency is in the seeds. But the kitchen was pleasantly revived when the fruits were ripe. "
V. Sviridova, Tula: “I came across a description and a photo of this variety on the Internet. I began to look for seeds in stores and did not find it. Had to order from the online store. Of the 15 seeds, 12 sprouted, so she herself gave them to friends. Pepper bushes are beautiful both during flowering and when fruits are set. Pepper is good fresh and pickled. "
Read also:
How to salt bell peppers for the winter whole quickly and tasty.
Conclusion
Bell pepper is still unusual for Russian gardeners. However, summer residents who are already growing this variety on their backyard plots note its bright and elegant appearance, the absence of special difficulties in care, high yield and the spicy, spicy-sweet taste of the fruit. Some difficulty, according to farmers, is the search for the seeds of this pepper.