Sweet peppers of the Belozerka variety are one of the most famous among the whole culture. Almost any large agricultural company is engaged in the cultivation of this variety. And gardeners and gardeners note that Belozerka has advantages over other varieties. What determines the popularity of this variety and what features of care and maintenance it differs, you can find out by reading this article.
White pepper seeds
The fruits of sweet pepper Belozerka have a conical shape
Sweet pepper
Description and characteristics of the variety
Variety of peppers "Belozerka" was introduced on the territory of Russia in the 90s. A few years later, this type of sweet pepper was officially noted in the state register of the Russian Federation. The original name for this variety was Lumina.
The variety is perfectly adapted to the difficult climatic conditions of our country. Breeders successfully managed to instill resistance to sharp temperature jumps, which is a fairly common occurrence for the Russian climate.
Bush
"Belozerka" is a hybrid, therefore, differs in some characteristic features of other varieties. Vegetation of this variety takes about 100 days. For the onset of biological maturity, at least 145 days are required.
The maximum height of the shrub reaches 75 cm. Therefore, for the Belozerka peppers, no support or additional garter is required. Shrub - half-stemmed with voluminous dark green foliage. The main stem is strong, the roots (with proper care and maintenance) are strong and resistant to harmful insects.
Fruit
Pepper "Belozerka" visually resembles a conical shape. The main distinguishing characteristic of other sweet peppers is the pointed tip of the fruit. Before biological maturity, the fruits have a light greenish hue. Then they acquire one of two possible colors: scarlet or yellow.
The peel of healthy fruits has a gloss characteristic of all sweet peppers. The peel thickness does not exceed 7 mm. However, the indicator may change (in a smaller direction) depending on the location of the shrub - on the open ground or in the greenhouse. You can find out about growing peppers in a greenhouse here.
There is a small volume of seeds inside the fetus that can be easily removed. Peppers "Belozerka" - sweet, without any sour and bitter aftertaste. For pulp, dense meatiness is characteristic. The maximum mass of one fruit is 135 g, the minimum is 80 g.
Ripening speed
The fruits of "Belozerka" are mid-early. In order for the fruit to ripen, it takes at least 115 days from the moment the seedling is transplanted into the open ground. Do not forget that the duration of the ripening of sweet peppers is influenced by several factors:
- climate;
- the presence of harmful insects or infectious diseases;
- prolonged lack of sun;
- the temperature of the water that is irrigated.
Productivity
One of the reasons for the continued popularity of sweet peppers of the Belozerka variety is the high yield indicators. Separately, it is worth noting the friendly ripening of all fruits on the bush, which facilitates harvesting. With 1 sq. m leaves about 8-9 kg of sweet and juicy peppers.
Advantages and disadvantages of "Belozerka" pepper
To the question of what this variety of peppers loved by gardeners and gardeners, you can answer by familiarizing yourself with its advantages:
- Not exacting plants in the content. The care is so simple that even an inexperienced gardener can handle it. Moreover, the culture is so unpretentious that even with not the best care, the crop will be good anyway.
- There is no need for regular fertilizer application. Over the entire growing season, you will need to "feed" the plant twice. When the first 2 sheets appear and after a week and a half. It is permissible to use any organic top dressing as fertilizer.
- The low height of shrubs eliminates the need for gardeners to feed and stalk. And massive leaves, which are located mainly in the upper part of the plant, organize a kind of "umbrella" for the fruits. Thanks to him, peppers are sheltered from burning sun rays.
- All fruits have a beautiful presentation.
- Peppers varieties "Belozerka" have a long shelf life. Fruits harvested during the period of technical maturity can be transported over long distances without losing their presentation.
- This variety has good resistance to fungal diseases.
- Peppers have a universal purpose - canning, fresh use, freezing or pickling.
There were no serious flaws in this variety.
The only thing you should pay attention to is the overly close distribution of shrubs. In this position, plants caught in the shade of a taller bush will receive less sunlight.
Over time, deformation of the upper part of the bush is noted, the plant begins to wilt. Fruits visually look worse and, according to gardeners, become unsuitable for conservation.
Features of planting and growing
Variety of sweet pepper "Belozerka" can be grown both on open ground and in greenhouse conditions. For the active growth and development of the plant in the first stages, it is necessary to show responsibility for the preparation of seeds and the subsequent care of seedlings. The preferred time for planting seedlings is the end of March.
Seed preparation
A few days before the expected date of planting seeds, it is necessary to carry out several simple preparatory steps. To begin, soak the seeds in a deep container with warm water for 2-3 hours. Over time, remove all seeds floating on the surface of the water. They will not germinate, therefore, are unsuitable for planting.
Submerge the remaining seeds in clean, warm water, but this time with a few drops of potassium permanganate. It is permissible to use biostimulating growth preparations.
Seed planting
After carrying out preparatory measures with seeds, you need to start planting them. In peat pots or any other container, make some small indentations in the ground. Place the seeds to a depth of not more than 1.5 cm.
It is preferable to use separate containers for growing sweet pepper, since the root system of the plant develops quite quickly and sooner or later it will require picking.
Soil selection and preparation
In order for the seedlings to sprout at the same time, try to maintain the same temperature in the room. Avoid drafts or excessive stuffiness. The optimum room temperature should be at least 24 degrees.
Once the seeds have been sown, use a spray gun to moisten the topsoil. Then wrap the containers with cling film to create a “greenhouse effect”.
Soil for seeds of sweet pepper is required fertile. Perfectly prepared mixture available in any garden store. In order for the roots of seedlings to grow stronger, resort to using complex mineral fertilizers. It is permissible to use it only after the formation of the first 3 leaves on the seedling.
Pay attention to the proportions - for 4 liters of liquid (warm water) take 10 g of superphosphate and 5 g of potassium. Re-feeding is done after 14 days. This time increasing the used substances by 2 times.
Planting seedlings
Seedlings are planted in open ground in the last May days. The distance between the bushes should not be less than 60 cm. Between the rows - 70 cm.
A few days before the intended planting, the seedlings are subjected to hardening. For this, the seedlings are carried out in the open air. For the first time for 10-15 minutes. Subsequently, increase the interval by 5-7 minutes.
Thanks to hardening, the plant more efficiently and quickly adapts to new conditions when planting on open ground.
Planting seedlings is recommended to be postponed until the afternoon. In cloudy weather, it is permissible to plant seedlings in the morning.
Open the previously prepared beds and make the necessary number of recesses in them. Water the wells plentifully. Do not spare water, at least 1 liter of warm liquid should go into one hole. Slowly remove the seedling from the pot and place it in the hole. Sprinkle the seedling on top with fertile soil.
Seedling care after planting in the ground
Due to the undemanding varieties of sweet pepper "Belozerka" to the content, the main care is timely watering, weeding the soil and fertilizing if necessary. Loosen the soil according to the diameter of the bush, but try not to penetrate to a depth of more than 7 cm. This is due to the fact that the root system is mostly located on the upper layers of the earth.
It is worth mentioning the effect of temperature on the plant. If a vegetable crop is grown in greenhouse conditions, then no difficulties should arise. However, when deciding to plant seedlings in open beds, it is necessary to closely monitor the condition of the plant.
Despite the fact that this variety copes with adverse weather conditions, try to protect the culture from the negative effects of external factors, if possible. Use a special covering material for vegetables if the outdoor temperature is close to +5 degrees.
Watering
Shrubs are irrigated once every 7 days. In hot weather 2 times. Use exceptionally warm, preferably pre-settled, water. The most favorable temperature for the used liquid is +25 degrees. For 1 square. m should leave at least 13 liters of water.
Flowering and ripening are stages when a plant needs moist soil. Therefore, watering is carried out three times in 7 days, and the volume of liquid doubles.
Top dressing
Peppers "Belozerka" do not need regular fertilizing. They receive all the necessary nutritional and beneficial trace elements from fertile soil and water. However, if you want to apply top dressing to stimulate the growth and development of the plant, it is permissible. But you need to do this moderately, without getting carried away by the process.
For this variety, it is recommended to use only mineral complex fertilizers. It is advisable to refuse from top dressing, the basis of which is chlorine. The fact is that this substance and sweet pepper are not well tolerated by each other.
For one hole, use no more than 3 tbsp. l mineral fertilizer. The composition is introduced into the root system of the plant. Then, the soil is carefully loosened according to the diameter of the shrub.
Do not forget that all top dressing is applied exclusively to moist soil. Therefore, shrubs are pre-watered with warm, infused water.
To get more information about feeding pepper seedlings, see the article: “When and how to properly feed pepper seedlings?”.
Harvesting and storage
There are two ways to harvest:
- The first is suitable for those who plan to use peppers immediately. For example, for cooking dishes or homemade winter preparations. Harvesting occurs upon the fruits of biological maturity, when the peel acquires a characteristic scarlet or yellow hue.
- The second option is ideal for transporting fruits over long distances or for long-term storage for later use. In this case, the crop is harvested when the fruits reach technical maturity.
Collect peppers using a garden pruner or scissors, cutting the fruit along with the stem. For storage, send peppers without scratches, dents or other mechanical damage.
With a large volume, for better shelf life of peppers, wrap them in paper towels and place in wooden boxes. So they can lie throughout the winter months. Occasionally scan peppers for rot and discard damaged fruits if necessary.
Another good storage method for this vegetable is freezing. However, all peppers must be ripe. Rinse the vegetables in cool water and pat dry with a towel to remove excess moisture. Then remove the stalk and seed. Cut the peppers into strips or cubes. Pack the slices in plastic bags or food containers, and place in the freezer.
Diseases and Pests
One of the main advantages of the Belozerka sweet pepper variety is the plant's resistance to various diseases. The most common fungal infections among sweet peppers, such as late blight, fusarium and rot, do not pose any danger to the shrubs "Belozerka". As a preventative measure, plants are treated 1-2 times with fungicidal solutions, including Barrier and Fitosporin.
The only difficulty in maintaining this variety is caused by insect pests. Vegetables can regularly be invaded by aphids or spider mites. Fortunately, there are extremely effective means to combat harmful insects, which can be prepared at home.
One of the most famous means is garlic tincture, which is sprayed with leaves of bushes. An excellent alternative is boiled onion peel mixed with grated laundry soap.
Reviews about pepper Belozerka
Yuri, 47 years old, car mechanic, village Nikolaevskaya. Good grade! Seedlings are strong and viable. I grow in open beds, the greenhouse is occupied by tomatoes and cucumbers. But even so, the bushes grow well. Harvest is good. Peppers are stored for a long time, do not rot. The only minus the fruits are small, when compared with other varieties of bell peppers.
Irina Sergeevna, 65 years old, pensioner, Kozmodemyansk. I grow Belozerka peppers in a greenhouse for many years. I like that over the entire period the plants have never been sick. My peppers are not very large, but sweet. I preserve only them. Even pickled they remain crispy.
Vasily, 58 years old, a summer resident, the city of Penza. I heard a lot of good about Belozerka peppers, but my wife and I decided to plant them only last summer. We already had two bushes with larger peppers and we had enough. I planted several seedlings along the edges of the greenhouse with tomatoes. And by the end of summer, they waved into large bushes. Harvest came out rich! It tastes no worse than sweet bell peppers.
Peppers "Belozerka" collected the best features of various sweet varieties. Not a whimsical plant to maintain and maintain, it is able to please a rich harvest of juicy and tasty peppers. This culture is perfect for those who do not have the opportunity to visit the garden plot daily. Subject to the basic recommendations for cultivation, you can harvest after 2.5 months.