The "California Miracle" sweet pepper variety was first produced in the West a century ago. Today, a myriad of varieties of this pepper is bred. It adapts perfectly to the climate of our country and pleases with a rich and fragrant crop. You can find out about the features of his care and maintenance by reading this article.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Pepper varieties "California Miracle", despite its exotic name, perfectly adapted to domestic garden plots. Visually, it is almost impossible to notice any serious differences from hybrid varieties of bell peppers. Large bright red fruits. Branched shrubs with sturdy stems.
Sweet pepper California Miracle
The fruits of the California Miracle may have a different skin tone when ripe
Yellow Pepper California Miracle
Pepper California Miracle Orange
Pepper California miracle ripe green, on the same bush with yellow
Pepper California Miracle Purple
Pepper California Chocolate Miracle
Let us consider in more detail the characteristic features of this variety of sweet pepper:
- The shrub has an average size, its height can reach 80 cm.
- The fruit, as a rule, acquires a cuboid shape during ripening. The surface is ribbed, visually divided into several segments.
- The peel is dense, shiny, smooth.
- The pulp of "California" pepper is characterized by meatiness, juiciness and a memorable sweetish aftertaste. Walls 9 mm thick.
- At the stage of biological maturity, pepper acquires a bright scarlet hue, and technical maturity is characterized by a greenish hue of the peel.
One of the main distinguishing characteristics of the California Miracle variety is its high sugar content in pepper. Peppers “California Miracle” are also known for being equally good for fresh consumption and for preparing stuffed dishes, and also do not forget about winter preparations. Thanks to a crispy and dense crust, peppers retain their shape even when cooked.
Varieties of Pepper California Miracle
This variety of sweet pepper has another interesting feature. The fact is that the fruits of the “California Miracle” can have a different skin tone when ripe. The color of the fruit shell does not change the taste or other characteristics of pepper at all, it only adds more visual decorativeness to the bush.
The following shades of peel are possible:
- dark green (mistaken for the technical immaturity of the fruit);
- deep yellow hue;
- red (fruits visually become like persimmons);
- the most famous is a deep red tint;
- black with a purple gloss (very much like an eggplant peel);
- a deep chocolate shade that was launched a couple of years ago.
The greatest mass are yellow and red peppers.
Advantages and disadvantages
The popularity of the “California Miracle” sweet pepper variety among gardeners is fairly easy to explain - a huge number of advantages over other similar varieties:
- excellent presentation of fruits;
- palatability - juiciness, meatiness, lack of bitterness;
- the ability of the shrub to give a good crop not only in the greenhouse, but also in the open garden;
- the plant is quite unpretentious in content;
- lack of need for pinching and creating supports for fixing the stems;
- fairly fast ripening period;
- universality of the use of fruits (fresh, preservation, pickling);
- peppers have a long shelf life, which facilitates their transportation over long distances.
For vegetable crops, regardless of their variety, it is inherent to have a number of disadvantages that must be taken into account. Fortunately, the California Miracle has a minimal amount.
The only significant drawback of this variety is the low resistance of the plant to infectious and viral diseases. However, this problem is quite simple to overcome - it will only be necessary to periodically carry out the necessary preventive measures.
Growing Features
There are several features that in no case can be ignored when growing seedlings of the “California Miracle”:
- Do not abuse watering the soil. Despite the fact that this culture needs moist soil, excess of water causes the disease "black leg".
- The water used to irrigate the seedlings must be warmed up, preferably if it is infused beforehand.
- Create conditions so that there are no drafts or excessively dry air in the room.
- If possible, try to extend the daylight hours for the plant. Get special seedling lamps.
Seed preparation
An important step before planting seeds is their preparation. The process is quite simple, but extremely effective. Therefore, ignoring it is not recommended:
- Soak the seeds in warm water and leave until they swell.
- After increasing them in size, wrap in a damp piece of cotton cloth and leave for 3 days.
Such manipulations with seeds allow you to achieve faster and more effective seedlings. It is noted that the planted seeds immediately into the soil germinate much longer and less willingly. Seedlings ultimately ripen less strong and need additional top dressing.
Planting seeds for seedlings
Plant seeds of sweet pepper, especially this variety, preferably in separate containers or glasses. This is due to the fact that the root system of seedlings, subject to all the conditions for growing this crop, is developing very actively.
Fill the containers with a mixture of fertile soil, sand and humus, in a ratio of 1: 1: 2, respectively. The most preferred period for planting seedlings of the “California Miracle” is the month of February. Correct planting affects the future development of the plant, its resistance to infectious and viral diseases, as well as the quality of the fruit.
Place the seeds in the ground, making small indentations in the ground and sprinkle soil on top. Using a spray gun, moisten the soil and cover the container with cling film to create a “greenhouse effect”.
Read about feeding pepper seedlings in our other article.
Picking seedlings
The roots of sweet peppers are much worse at picking seedlings, in comparison with tomatoes or other vegetable crops. As a rule, they need more time to recover. Therefore, if possible, it is better to abandon the dive. If transplantation is necessary for objective reasons, it is recommended to pay attention to the following nuances:
- Only seedlings that already have more than 3 leaves are dived.
- Add a small amount of mineral fertilizer to the transplanted soil. This will have a beneficial effect on the injured plant.
- Refuse watering the day before the dive. A compacted lump of earth at the root system of a seedling will press on the stem with its mass and tear off the roots.
Transplanting seedlings in open ground
It is advisable to plant seedlings of sweet pepper immediately after reaching the age of 65 days. Older seedlings are at greater risk of injury during planting. A few days before planting, conduct a hardening course for the plant. To do this, periodically take the seedlings to the street or leave the window open.
Before embarking in the ground, make small indentations in the ground. Pre-dig the soil and water the wells abundantly. Plant seedlings at a distance of 45 cm from each other, no less.
To preserve moisture in the ground, which sweet peppers need so much, use mulch. It, in turn, will contribute to the preservation of the soil in a loose state and breathability.
Refuse from co-placement on the beds of varieties of hot pepper with "California" (sweet). The fact is that both varieties can be cross-pollinated, which will contribute to a change in the taste of both plants.
A rich harvest is guaranteed provided that high-fertile soil was used during cultivation. Carefully pre-dug and moistened. Do not forget about the rules of crop rotation. When planning to grow sweet peppers of this variety in open beds, the most preferred area is the former place of growing onions, carrots and various representatives of legumes.
Pepper Care California Miracle
Keeping pepper in greenhouse conditions or in an open garden, the process is not very laborious, but requires attention. Correctly performed actions to care for bushes with sweet pepper will certainly be rewarded with a plentiful harvest after 3 months.
Watering and feeding
Wet ground "California Miracle" is very fond of. But don't overdo it. Excess water will adversely affect the shrubbery. Water as needed, as soon as you notice that the soil has dried up. Periodically loosen the earth over the entire diameter of the shrub. This will allow air to penetrate the root system, and moisture will not stagnate.
Caution should also be taken with top dressing. As a rule, fertilizers based on phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium are used for good plant growth and development. For 1 square. m requires no more than 45 g of fertilizing. Nitrogen contribute a little less - 25 g per 1 square. m
Relying on the experience of people who have been engaged in gardening for a long time, it is enough to feed the Californian Miracle variety once a spring. In the first weeks after planting seedlings in open ground.
Bush formation
In most cases, only experienced gardeners are involved in pruning a bush of sweet pepper. Beginners are convinced that even without the formation of the bushes of the “California Miracle”, the harvest will be rich. But an experienced gardener knows that it is possible to increase the volume of the crop and the size of the fruit with the correct pruning of the plant.
This variety is a tall plant, since the height of the shrub can reach 80 cm. Bushes must be cut, tweaked, removed extra shoots that do not bear fruit. Such manipulations contribute to better permeability of air and sunlight.
Pruning sweet varieties of pepper is made in order to regulate the aerial part of the bush. The lack of timely pruning delays the ripening process of the fruits and contributes to the deterioration of their quality and taste. The formation of pepper bushes consists of the removal of:
- lateral shoot on the main stem;
- flower bud;
- small sections of the main stems, especially those that give a large number of shoots without fruits.
It is customary to leave a flower bud on the main stem in order to have time to shoot. After which the side shoot is removed along with the flower bud. However, one sheet must be left. So for each shoot, two leaves, thanks to which he can eat.
Learn how to form peppers on a garden plot from the video below:
Harvesting
The fruit assembly time directly depends on the following parameters:
- Consideration of the ripening dates of the variety. In the case of the California Miracle, it is about 120 days from the moment of landing in open ground.
- Considering the features of a particular type of pepper. This variety is sweet, which means that the fruit ripens a little earlier, in comparison with the bitter varieties of peppers.
- The climate in the current season.
For those shrubs that were not kept in greenhouse conditions, the latter parameter will be decisive. Such a thermophilic culture as peppers does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures. Therefore, upon the onset of the first frosts, all the fruits available on the bushes are collected.
Having reached technical maturity, peppers can ripen on their own if placed in a warm room. By and large, many gardeners do not wait until sweet peppers have reached biological maturity, but prefer to harvest in advance.
If shrubs are grown in a greenhouse, then with the harvest at the onset of frost, you can wait. However, do not forget that at a stable cold temperature, the growth of vegetable crops stops and the plant stops its development. So it makes no sense to tighten the fruit assembly.
Another important factor is the shelf life and storage of sweet pepper varieties "California Miracle." The fruits of this variety have a long shelf life and are able to tolerate transportation over long distances. However, this is only possible provided that the fruit collection was carried out before the onset of biological maturity. Otherwise, the vegetable is recommended to be consumed immediately fresh or subjected to preservation, or pickling.
Diseases and Pests
Dull and drooping leaves, often accompanied by dry fringing, are a sign that the plant is in dire need of nitrogen fertilizer. If you notice violet spots on the back of the leaf, urgently fertilize the bush with top dressing, the basis of which is magnesium.
There are not so many diseases that the “California Miracle” sweet pepper variety is subject to:
- blackleg;
- late blight;
- macrosporiosis.
The treatment of the culture is carried out thanks to chemical solutions called "Barrier" and "Barrier". Processing with drugs is carried out no later than 2 weeks before the start of harvest.
Like any other culture, sweet peppers are also prone to “attack” by insect pests. Typically, these are:
- aphid;
- Bears
- Colorado beetles.
The most effective way to deal with these pests is wood ash. It is pollinated by bushes and topsoil near the root system.
Gardeners reviews
Sergey, 63 years old, summer resident, pos. Suslonger. In recent years, I have grown only this variety of peppers. Pleases with a rich harvest and large fruits. The taste is excellent, care is practically not required.
Julia, 37 years old, dentist, Yekaterinburg. Very good grade! Ideal for canning and stuffing, peppers do not fall apart when cooking. Homemade people really like the sweet aftertaste and crisp.
Marina, 42 years old, accountant, Moscow. 2 years ago I tried my mother's peppers. They were very tasty! I took a few seeds and planted on my site. Bushes grew large, strong. But the peppers were bitter. I think due to the fact that there was a bush next to another, bitter variety. This year I’ll plant in different beds.
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Sweet pepper of the “California Miracle” variety, despite its thermophilicity, managed to perfectly adapt to the difficult weather conditions of our country. It was this variety that was especially fond of domestic gardeners and gardeners for large and sweet fruits, unique aroma, the beauty of shrubs and a rich harvest.