Pepper "Atlant": characteristics and description of the variety, reviews

Growing juicy peppers in central Russia is a challenge. But new pepper varieties like 'Atlant' challenge this notion. 'Atlant' is an early-ripening pepper that survives and even produces fruit successfully outdoors in temperate regions of the country. With proper care, it can produce a harvest with excellent presentation and excellent flavor.

The plant requires some additional care: watering with warm water, mandatory fertilizing, and proper lighting. Therefore, "Atlant" is not suitable for those who don't have time to care for the plant. However, for gardeners who spend the entire summer in their garden, this variety is perfect.

General characteristics of the variety

"Atlant" is an early-ripening pepper variety that begins bearing fruit in just 70-75 days after sowing. It holds the record for earliest fruiting. It's considered a giant variety, with fruits reaching up to 22 cm in length. When ripe, the peppers turn a vibrant red hue, although they can be harvested for technical ripening even when green.

The plant is characterized by its short stems, allowing it to be grown without additional supports or ties. It tolerates Russian climates well if cared for properly: water with warm water and fertilize. Seedlings can be planted in open ground, in a greenhouse, or under a plastic awning (or without a awning, i.e., without a special arch). In the temperate zone, the plant grows best under lutrasil: it doesn't get steamed, doesn't get sunburned, and produces fruit well.

The "Atlant" plant can only grow to a "giant" size with proper care and regular fertilizing. Therefore, don't blame the breeders if you neglect the plant and don't get the desired harvest at the end of the year. It's best to carefully follow all the care tips below to ensure a healthy and vigorous plant.

Landing dates

The plant should be sown indoors in February or late January. The seeds are sold untreated and undisinfected, so they should be treated with potassium permanganate or another disinfectant before planting. This is necessary to ensure the vegetable grows disease-free and does not spread vegetative infections to other plants.

When purchasing plants, pay attention to the producer. Ukrainian breeders produce hybrid varieties. These "Atlanta" varieties are larger and produce good fruit. However, for regular farmers, purchasing such hybrids entails additional costs, as it is impossible to collect seeds from the vegetable and use them for sowing next year. Therefore, if you are a farmer or simply interested in collecting your own seeds, be sure to check whether you are purchasing a hybrid or a cultivar.

To ensure a seedling sprouts quickly, it needs to be well fertilized already at the planting stage. If you have the budget and the selection at your local flower shop, purchase a growth stimulant. This powder can be dissolved in water to create a nutrient-rich solution. The seeds should be soaked in the solution for no more than 24 hours.

Seeds should be planted in specially prepared pots. Avoid planting too many seeds at once in the same soil: each seedling should have its own space. Two seeds are planted in a pot with fertilized soil. Seedlings require periodic feeding and regular watering with warm water. They should be placed on a windowsill or other brightly lit area, but avoid exposure to drafts. If daylight hours are less than 12 hours, provide additional lighting.

Seedlings can be planted outdoors at the end of May. At low temperatures, a covering film will be needed. To ensure all the seedlings establish themselves in their new location, it's advisable to apply fertilizer before planting.

Harvest characteristics

The Atlanta variety produces a high yield. A single bush produces up to 20 peppers, each weighing 150 grams. The peppers' walls are 0.9 to 1.1 cm thick. They are easy to cut, yet do not deform under pressure on the counter, and retain their marketable appearance for a long time.

The more fertilizers are used, the higher the yield of the bushes will be.

Care instructions

The heat-loving plant requires simple artificial conditions, namely:

1. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours. Instead of UV lamps, you can use any lighting source: LED, LED, and others. It's best to avoid incandescent bulbs, as they can cause burns if placed too close to the leaves.
2. Water only with warm water. It's enough to bring it to room temperature.
3. Mineral fertilizers should be added to the soil regularly, at least twice a month.
4. You can water the plant weekly with natural fertilizers: dilute the manure in water and moisten the soil around the roots.

Hilling is not necessary for the plant. Regular weeding is necessary, as the bushes are very sensitive to the presence of neighbors. Avoid planting bushes too close together. The distance from one bush to another should be at least 40 cm. Only 1-1.5 bushes can be planted in one two-square-meter area, so look for larger beds for 'Atlant'.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

This variety thrives in Russian conditions and is versatile – suitable for greenhouses, tents, and open ground. This makes it so popular with gardeners and professional farmers. They primarily appreciate the following advantages:

1. Large fruit size. 'Atlant' holds the record for fruit size, reaching up to 22 cm in length without appearing thin.
2. Good presentation. The fruits have a long shelf life, are attractively shiny, and are free of spots and film.
3. Excellent flavor. Varietal peppers are the sweetest, and hybrids are even more delicious.
4. The flesh is juicy and thick-walled. When the core containing the seeds is removed, the fruit loses almost no weight.
5. Simple care instructions. Compared to other peppers, the "Atlant" is almost completely unpretentious.
6. There's no need for staking or support. The stems can withstand gusts of wind and don't break under the weight of the fruit. This increases yields and allows for greater profitability from mass pepper cultivation.

A few drawbacks make the "Atlant" a poor choice for inexperienced gardeners. The main disadvantages are:

1. There are many hybrids and varieties of this variety. You might not find one from which you can harvest seeds for subsequent sowing (a true cultivar). You might also end up with a variety that's less sweet than you originally intended.
2. Without constant feeding in the form of natural fertilizers and special minerals, the plant will not produce the promised gigantic harvest.
3. Provide the pepper with at least 12 hours of daylight per day, either by setting up a greenhouse or vegetable garden. If the peppers receive light for a shorter period of time, don't expect a good harvest.

Application

The "Atlant" variety is one of the leading food varieties. It is used to create the following dishes:

• lecho;
• vegetable salads;
• omelettes;
• fried eggs;
• stuffed peppers;
• grilled peppers and many others.

The peppers can be frozen when they reach a rich light green color and thawed throughout the year as needed. Freezing does not affect the pepper's flavor or soften its texture.

Peppers contain many micronutrients. If you grow them in your own garden, you can safely give Atlant dishes to children as a vitamin supplement. When buying peppers at grocery stores, be wary of pesticides and be sure to wash the fruit before any additional processing.

Reviews

Elena R., Nizhnekamsk, 69 years old:

"I bought a hybrid for my greenhouse. It grew well, but for a while the power went out and there was no light, so it started to wilt. Luckily, I was able to save it. By the end of the year, the yield was smaller than expected."

Nikolay P., 50 years old, Krasnodar:

"In my area, you can only grow 'Atlant' in a greenhouse. I planted 20 bushes at once. The harvest lasted the entire year."

Irina K., 36 years old, Moscow:

"Peppers are easy to grow and don't die on cold nights if you cover them. The harvest is quite good. My relatives were surprised where I got such delicious peppers for stuffed dishes."