A special place among vegetable crops, undoubtedly, belongs to pepper. This storehouse of vitamins is grown by almost all gardeners and summer residents, and many of them prefer not to be limited to one variety. Today we will share with you photos and reviews about the cockatoo pepper, as well as tell you how to grow it in your area. In this article you will learn not only the main characteristics of this variety, but also its useful properties.
Grade description
Cockatoo pepper is a mid-season hybrid variety with a ripening period of 110 days from planting to harvest. In some cases, it may begin to bear fruit a little earlier. Many experienced vegetable growers have long preferred this variety; according to reviews, cockatoos are not only fast-ripening, but also high-yielding. The height of upright lush bushes reaches one and a half meters. Quite large leaves have a dark green color. Despite the fact that the bush is quite sprawling, it does not need a garter and support. Cylindrical-shaped fruits have fragrant, sweet and juicy pulp, hiding under the dense skin of bright red color. The variety was named because of the similarity of the appearance of the vegetable with the beak of a famous bird.
Characteristic
This variety has gained particular popularity due to its impressive size and amazing taste. Judging by the photos and reviews of the cockatoo pepper, the weight of one fruit reaches 500 grams, and the length is at least 25 centimeters. In addition, the variety is characterized as high-yielding. From one bush you can collect from 2.5 to 3 kilograms of mature crops. Heat-loving peppers are grown in open ground in warm regions and in a greenhouse or using night shelter if the climate in the region is less favorable.
Growing Features
Before you decide to grow cockatoo pepper, you need to responsibly approach the choice of a place to plant. The bed should be located in the most sunny area. This variety does not tolerate solar starvation - almost immediately the leaves begin to turn yellow and wither, and the fruits do not reach the proper size, color and taste. In general, reviews about the variety of "cockatoo" pepper say that it is completely unpretentious in care, although it requires the creation of certain comfortable growing conditions. For active growth, proper fruit development and high fruiting, it is important to follow some rules, which will be discussed in the following sections.
Growing seedlings
The first step in getting these amazing vegetables is sowing seeds for seedlings. The process is quite simple, despite the presence of some features. Before planting the seeds go through several stages of preparation. First, the seeds are soaked for 5 hours in hot water at a temperature of about 50 ° C. After that, the seeds are placed in a moist tissue until germination. Use only high-quality planting material for a rich harvest.
Sowing germinated seeds for seedlings is carried out in late March or the first half of April. Deepening is carried out by no more than 2-3 centimeters. Containers with seedlings are placed in a well-lit place with an air temperature of about +28 ° C. Within ten days after sowing, subject to these conditions, the first shoots should appear. From this moment, the air temperature drops slightly to +25 ° C. Seedlings are watered daily in the morning. Water of room temperature is used for these purposes. When 5-6 full leaves appear, the seedlings are picked.
Open transplant
According to the description of the cockatoo pepper, this vegetable is considered very thermophilic. Therefore, the transfer of the plant to a permanent place in the open ground is carried out only after the onset of warm weather. Young seedlings should be protected from temperature extremes and night frosts. In cold regions, cockatoo peppers are grown in a greenhouse. There are several basic rules for transplanting peppers:
- the height of the seedlings should be at least 15 centimeters;
- Transplant term - the end of May or the beginning of June;
- fertile soil enriched with fertilizing is used;
- the distance between the bushes is about 40 centimeters, and between the rows - not less than a meter;
- seedlings are transferred to a pre-moistened hole and watered again after transplantation;
- the area around the bushes is mulched.
Care
To obtain a rich and tasty crop, as in the photo of "cockatoo" pepper, not only a properly planted process of planting is required, but also a certain care.
Peppers of this variety require regular and plentiful watering. Due to the thermophilic nature of the plant, it is important to use cold water. Its temperature should vary from +17 to +20 ° C. The frequency of watering is also important, which depends on the method of growing cockatoo pepper. Greenhouse pepper is watered every 2-4 days, while ground pepper - not more than once a week. Watering is doubled in frequency and amount of water during the formation of the fruit.
Like other hybrids, it loves top dressing and cockatoo pepper. Reviews about the variety from experienced gardeners recommend fertilizing at least three times for the entire growing period. The first top dressing is applied immediately after planting, the second and third - during the formation of flowers and fruits. The basis of any top dressing is nitrate, in which chicken manure is introduced in the first stage, potassium salt and phosphorus during flowering and fruit development. In addition, feeding is combined with watering for better penetration of nutrients.
Another important step in the care of the cockatoo pepper is the stepsoning. Only a properly formed bush is able to competently distribute nutrients and ensure the growth of large and tasty fruits. Remove lateral shoots in a timely manner so that after removal there remains a stump with a height of at least 2 centimeters. Shorter pruning will provoke the active development of new side shoots.
Diseases and Pests
Sometimes proper and timely care is not enough, and the plant may be affected by harmful insects or diseases.
Judging by the reviews of cockatoos, the main disease affecting the plant is late blight. Moreover, the most unpleasant thing is that it affects planting at the seedling stage, and this can lead to the complete death of the plant. Therefore, one of the important growing conditions is the removal of diseased plants at the earliest stages of infection, thinning of the plantings to organize sufficient space and preventive treatment with fungicidal preparations.
Another nuisance that can be encountered when growing pepper is the top rot of fruits. This disease occurs due to temperature changes or a disturbed irrigation regime. Paying due attention to plantings and spraying them with calcium nitrate, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of this disease.
The main pests loving peppers are spider mites and aphids. If alternative methods of control, such as spraying with ash and garlic solutions, do not help, then it is worth starting the use of insecticides. However, it is worth remembering that such processing is unacceptable at the stage of fruit formation.
Slugs are another unpleasant pest, causing significant damage to the fruits and leaves of the plant. In addition to the manual collection and destruction of adults, treatment with the Strela preparation is required. An effective measure to combat slugs is the sprinkling of soil around the bush with dry mustard or bitter ground pepper.
Harvesting
The most beloved and long-awaited time for any gardener is the harvest season. This procedure is performed after the fruits reach the maximum size. However, due to the high weight of vegetables in combination with weak shoots, the fruits are harvested at the stage of incomplete maturity. Green peppers are carefully cut with a knife, as breaking off leads to damage to the bush. The interval between harvests, as a rule, is about a week.
Benefit
Sweet cockatoo peppers are a great addition not only to summer salads, but also to winter dishes, since this variety is very tolerant to freezing. Preservation of taste and appearance allows you to cook boiled, stewed and fried dishes with it. In addition, there are many recipes for preserving this vegetable.
Any kind of sweet pepper is incredibly healthy, and "cockatoo" is no exception. Crispy vegetables are rich in vitamins C, P, B and organic acids. In addition, pepper has antioxidant properties, strengthens the nervous system and normalizes the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
Cockatoo pepper is an excellent decoration of the garden. Lush bushes of lush greenery are combined with large bright fruits and please the eye no worse than a flower bed.