Sweet pepper is one of the most delicious and healthy vegetables. It is consumed fresh, canned, added to various hot dishes, dried and frozen. In addition, pepper is quite unpretentious in care and is well stored in assembled form. Even experienced gardeners can sometimes find it difficult to choose the best varieties of sweet pepper, because today they are simply unthinkable. In this article we will try to figure out among the variety of varieties of this vegetable and share the rating of the best.
Hybrid or variety?
Before deciding on the best sweet pepper variety, it is important to examine the differences between hybrids and varieties.
A variety is the result of the long work of breeders who select the best qualities of a vegetable. All genes of varietal pepper are absolutely identical to each other. The variety is selected and adapted to specific climatic conditions. Even after pollination, varietal peppers will produce identical seeds. Obtaining seeds from the bush is the main advantage of varietal vegetables. For this procedure, choose the strongest and most healthy fruits, from which seeds of the best grade of sweet pepper are collected.
A hybrid is the result of a cross obtained by combining a certain combination of parental vegetables. A special advantage of hybrid vegetables lies in artificially derived resistance to many diseases, increased yield and overall plant strength. However, hybrid vegetables are not suitable for collecting seeds, since the collected material will be similar to parents who do not have all the valuable properties.
Apricot favorite
This variety belongs to peppers of early ripening. The growing season is not more than 110 days from the moment of planting. Due to its resistance to adverse climatic conditions, the Apricot favorite is one of the best varieties of sweet pepper for the Moscow Region. The variety is distinguished by a compact bush, the height of which does not exceed a half meter. Suitable for growing both in open ground and in a greenhouse. Ripe fruits are cone-shaped, glossy peel and bright orange color, similar to the color of apricot. The mass of the vegetable varies from 130 to 170 grams. Among the main advantages of the variety can be noted high productivity (at least 20 fruits from the bush), versatility of use and excellent taste.
Agapovsky
Mid-season sweet pepper variety, the best characteristics of which are: high yield, resistance to many diseases and excellent preservation of the presentation. The growing season of Agapovsky sweet pepper is 120-130 days. The semi-determinant bush reaches a height of 90 centimeters. The ripe fruit has a prismatic shape, a glossy skin and protruding waves on the surface. The wall thickness often reaches 9-10 millimeters. The mass of one vegetable is approximately 125-130 grams, and from one square meter you can collect at least 9.5 kilograms of the crop. Juicy and fleshy pepper first has a juicy green color, which, as the fruit ripens, turns into bright red. Despite a number of advantages, this variety has its drawbacks, which are the urgent need for regular watering and long-term lighting. That is why it can not be attributed to the best varieties of sweet pepper for the middle lane, where the climate is less favorable and less happy sunny days.
Atlant
Quite popular and demanded among many gardeners, a good variety of sweet pepper for a greenhouse and open ground. However, Atlant does not differ in high productivity - no more than 5 kilograms per square meter. The half-stem culture has early ripening, and therefore you can harvest the first crop already 130 days after sowing the seeds. The best grade of sweet pepper has fruits with excellent commercial qualities that last for a long time. Cone-shaped peppers reach a length of 25-26 centimeters and have a juicy pulp, a thickness of at least 6 millimeters. This variety is unpretentious and easy to care for, as well as resistance to tobacco mosaic.
Hero
Truly heroic in size are the fruits of this variety of sweet pepper. The best specimens reach a weight of 250 grams. Mid-season sweet peppers yield 140 days after planting. Bogatyr is the best grade of sweet pepper for open ground, but even in the greenhouse it feels great. The bush has an average height and rather dense foliage. The color of the fruit changes gradually from green to bright red. Fragrant pulp reaches a thickness of 5 to 7 millimeters. The main advantages of the Athlete:
- high productivity - from 5 to 7 kilograms per square meter;
- colossal content of vitamin C and rutin;
- resistance to sudden cold snap;
- universality of use;
- long storage.
Of the shortcomings, one can only note the exactingness to enhanced lighting and high soil moisture.
Health
One of the best varieties of sweet pepper for the greenhouse. The culture belongs to early ripening - the first crop ripens already 80-85 days after sowing. The height of the bush varies from 150 to 180 centimeters, while it is quite sprawling and dense. The fruits of this variety do not differ in large size, rather, on the contrary. Ripe vegetables weigh no more than 40 grams, and their wall thickness does not exceed 4 millimeters. However, the ripening process occurs amicably, which allows us to classify this variety of sweet pepper as the best. Ripe fruits have a prismatic shape and bright red color. The advantages of the variety are a high content of vitamins, the ability to preserve the whole form and a fairly high yield - about 6 kilograms per square meter of plot. In addition, the variety is resistant to apical rot, friendly ripening of fruits, and the absolute absence of requirements for special climatic conditions.
California Miracle
The California miracle can be safely attributed to the best varieties of sweet pepper for the Urals. And all because he is completely unpretentious and grows well even in adverse conditions. Despite its thin-walled nature, this pepper perfectly takes root in the open ground, even in Siberia. In general, the variety is early (the crop is harvested 100-115 days after planting), the bush is determinant, and the fruits reach a weight of 80 to 130 grams. Peppers are used both fresh and canned. The advantage of this pepper is the ability to collect seeds with almost 100% germination. According to the reviews of gardeners who have already tried this variety, at the stage of the appearance of the first shoots, pepper requires increased soil moisture. With proper care, at least 9 seeds of 10 planted take root. Also, a high yield of this variety is noted, which allows to plant a small number of bushes.
Cow ear
Cow pepper ear grade is classified as mid-early, as it ripens already 75-80 days after planting. This variety, as well as its hybrids, are suitable for growing in any conditions, whether it is a greenhouse or open ground. For the best grade of sweet pepper, low bushes are characteristic, reaching a height of about 60 centimeters. Juicy fruits weighing from 120 to 150 grams are perfectly stored and transported. The main length of ripe peppers reaches 12 centimeters, if you believe the good reviews about the variety of sweet pepper, the first fruits grow in length up to forty centimeters, and the subsequent ones begin to grow smaller.
Gemini F1
Gemini sweet pepper hybrid came to us from Holland. The seeds of this pepper are suitable for cultivation exclusively in the open field. The small height of the bushes (about 60 centimeters) allows the use of film shelter in the growing process. The hybrid belongs to the early ripening, since the first crop can be obtained already 72 days after planting. Large fruits have a cuboid and slightly elongated shape, as well as 4 seed chambers. The color of the fruit changes as it ripens from dark green to sunny yellow. The advantages of the Gemini hybrid are its increased resistance to drought, sunburn and numerous diseases. The easy harvest process is also pleasant, as the fruits grow on an elongated peduncle. In addition, the fruits are consumed at various stages of maturity - both green and yellow. Moreover, on each of them pepper has a different taste. The sweetest, of course, are considered ripe yellow specimens.
Claudio F1
Another Dutch hybrid, characterized by its versatility in terms of selection of a landing space. It is permissible to grow it in glass and polycarbonate greenhouses, in open ground and even film greenhouses. Early ripe Claudio pepper ripens already 70-75 days after sowing in the greenhouse. Cuboid-elongated fruits have a green color, which gradually turns into saturated red. Fragrant and delicious peppers reach a mass of 200-210 grams. Subject to comfortable climatic conditions, consisting in a sufficient amount of lighting and heat, the thickness of the walls of ripe pepper reaches 10, or even 14 millimeters. If the weather turned out to be rainy and cloudy, do not be afraid of the extended period of ripening of the crop. To accelerate the redness of the fruit in August, you can cover the bushes with a film. Seed germination of 100%, even without preliminary soaking and other preparation.
The best late-ripening varieties
When growing such peppers, it is worth considering the climatic conditions of your region. Late varieties can be grown in open ground by residents of the southern regions, in the rest, peppers simply will not have time to ripen before a cold snap. So, the best varieties of sweet pepper with a late ripening are:
- Gladiator. Dutch variety with pyramidal fruits. Ripe peppers have a rich yellow color and a mass of about 350 grams.
- Black Cardinal - Italian variety with juicy flesh. In full ripeness, the fruits are almost black in color.
- Bell. A rather original variety, whose name is due to the shape of the fruit. The piquant taste of the fruit has a slight acidity. This variety is considered perennial, but it is advisable to transfer it to a warm room for the winter. The ripening period of peppers exceeds 140 days. From one bush collect at least 2 kilograms of the crop.
Popular medium-ripening varieties
- Tenderness. Great variety for indoor cultivation. Conical fruits are small in size and weight - not more than 50 grams. The variety is standard and does not require a garter.
- Novogogoshary. A stem plant reaching a height of no more than half a meter. Thick-walled fruits weigh about 130 grams. A distinctive feature of this variety is a long fruiting period - about one and a half months from the moment of ripening of the first fruits. The variety is very transportable and is subject to long-term storage.
- A gift from Moldova is the most popular sweet pepper variety among experienced gardeners. It is especially appreciated for its unpretentiousness and ease of care, as well as resistance to many diseases and the effects of harmful insects. Oblong fruits grow 7-9 centimeters in length and reach a weight of about 60-70 grams. Great for canning.