Pepper "Apricot Favorite": characteristics and description of the variety

Peppers are difficult to grow in Russia due to their heat-loving nature. However, some varieties have been developed specifically for cultivation in temperate climates. The "Apricot Favorite" variety thrives in the moderate climate, cool summer nights, and regular rainfall. Even without a greenhouse or expensive fertilizers, it produces and grows well.

Gardener reviews and variety characteristics will help you decide whether this variety is right for you. In most cases, the answer will be yes.

General characteristics of the variety

"Apricot Favorite" is an early-ripening pepper. It grows well in Russian climates, although it is heat-loving. To ensure comfortable conditions in the temperate zone, the plant only needs warm water and cover. It is resistant to night frosts with proper care and is very productive. Growers who want to achieve rapid germination and maximum yield should plant the pepper in a greenhouse.

The plant is generally unpretentious, but requires special fertilizers if grown for commercial harvesting.

Please note: 'Apricot Favorite' does not grow well in regions with constant cloudiness. Therefore, gardeners in such areas should avoid purchasing this variety or consider using special LED grow lights.

Landing dates

The plant is sold as seeds. To grow a seedling, you need the following ingredients:

• growth stimulator;
• potassium permanganate;
• seedling cassettes;
• fertilized soil;
• drainage (ceramic balls or other type).

In the seedling trays, create drainage by adding large pieces of expanded clay or stone, then cover with a sufficient amount of soil. Next, prepare the seed for growth. Planting should begin in late January or early February. The optimal time is from January 25 to February 10.

Before planting the seed in a seedling tray, soak the seed in potassium permanganate. A weak solution or diluted potassium permanganate is sufficient. Soak each seed in the solution for no more than 15 minutes, then rinse and place it in a growth stimulator solution or a homemade solution containing minerals and microelements. Leave the seed in the solution for 11 hours. The final step before planting is keeping the seed moist. Remove it from the growth stimulator, wipe it dry, moisten it with plain water, and store it in a warm, bright place for 2 days.

After planting, the seedlings need careful care. Avoid leaving them in dark places, as they will stop growing. Periodically, the seedlings should be moistened with warm water or watered gently.

Peppers can withstand even the nighttime temperatures of temperate Russia, but they only grow in the summer. Therefore, seedlings should be planted when warm weather arrives, usually in late May. If meteorologists predict a cold summer, it's necessary to prepare a special area for the peppers: install wire arches and cover them with plastic. Under this cover, peppers can grow in temperatures down to 10 degrees Celsius.

Harvest characteristics

A single 'Apricot Favorite' bush produces up to 20 fruits. At the very beginning of ripening, they are a delicate light green, later turning orange. After this point, they are ready to be picked.

The fruits ripen within 100 days of seed germination, so the harvest can be picked from June to July. Each fruit weighs approximately 150 g. Its walls are 7 mm thick, meaning the core is very small, and there's virtually no "extra" pulp inside each pepper.

A typical 600-square-meter garden plot can produce several hundred fruits per summer. The plant is very compact; a single 1-square-meter bed can yield up to 160 fruits per summer.

Care instructions

The plant should be kept under cover, in a greenhouse, or outdoors, but in a southern location. Because "Apricot Favorite" thrives in artificial conditions, it can be grown indoors anywhere in Russia.

Basic vegetable care includes:

• regular watering with warm water only;
• spraying the stems and leaves as they dry;
• adding growth stimulants to the bud (if a bountiful harvest is required);
• cutting the lower leaves to the first fork.

If you overdo the growth stimulant, you'll need fishing line and supports to support the plants. It's also advisable to tie up the bushes during the period of active growth and fruiting. If the growing region experiences a lot of wind and rain, staking is essential, otherwise the bushes will break under the weight of the fruit and due to additional external factors.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

"Apricot Favorite" is very easy to grow compared to more heat-loving pepper varieties. It's one of the few varieties that grows not only in the south of the country, but also in the central and eastern regions. This is its main advantage.

Other benefits of this vegetable:

1. Early maturing. One of the few vegetables that produces a harvest in early summer.
2. Productive. From a small garden plot or a standard greenhouse, you can harvest enough fruit to last the average family a year.
3. Excellent flavor. The pepper is neither bitter nor overly sweet, so it complements any dish beautifully.
4. Large in size and rich in "healthy" pulp, the "Apricot Favorite" fruit requires virtually no core or seed removal.

There are also a few disadvantages:

1. Requires constant light. Growing in cloudy regions will be very difficult. In open spaces, battery-powered lights will be necessary to illuminate the beds on rainy days.
2. It doesn't tolerate cold water. The plant's roots may die if it's regularly watered with cold liquid. For the same reason, it shouldn't be purchased by gardeners living in cold, rainy areas. In areas prone to frequent rainfall, it's essential to provide a shelter for the plant.

The plant has numerous advantages, but it also has some drawbacks. This makes it a popular choice among both amateur gardeners and even professional vegetable growers. Under the special conditions of vegetable farms, this vegetable grows and produces fruit very well, so it is regularly purchased in large quantities for farms.

Application

The main purpose of the "Apricot Favorite," or rather, the fruits of this plant, is for consumption. The vegetable has no specific medicinal properties, but it has a pleasant taste and contains a lot of beneficial liquid. The fruits can be eaten in hot weather in vegetable salads, and in colder months, frozen peppers can be used for stuffing.

Fruits of the Apricot Favorite variety, both domestically and internationally produced, are purchased by grocery stores and catering establishments.

For reference: "Favoritka" is the third most popular type of domestically produced pepper, according to purchases for stores and restaurants.

Reviews

Bragina Sofia, 39 years old, Izhevsk:

"I initially grew 'Favoritka' for myself, but after harvesting 19-20 fruits per bush, I decided to try selling them. The fruits sell well because they're attractive—large and shiny. Neither customers nor my husband, for whom I made lecho, have ever complained about the taste."

Petrov Ilya, 30 years old, Yekaterinburg:

"I'm a cook. I create dishes not only for my family but also professionally. I tried making several stuffed dishes with 'Apricot Favorite' at home, then insisted on stocking our cafe with it. Customers praise the vegetable salads and stuffed meat dishes."

Stepanova Nadezhda, 56 years old, St. Petersburg:

"I started growing this variety at my dacha three years ago and almost immediately ran into a problem with insufficient light. After cloudy weeks, the seedlings would wilt, and several died. Last year, I decided to install a battery-powered light next to each bed. Now the peppers are growing well and producing fruit well. I recommend them."