Bogatyr Pepper: Variety Description with Photos and Reviews

The name of the pepper speaks for itself: even with undemanding care, the fruits turn out glossy, large and fleshy. But like any crop, the Bogatyr sweet pepper has its own subtleties of cultivation and care.

Pepper Bogatyr: variety description

This variety's robust bush can reach a height of 70 cm, with a spreading crown and a prolific fruit set. The fruits are green at the technical maturity stage, but as they ripen, they acquire a glossy red hue and are either cuboid or conical in shape. Regardless of the fruit shape, the plant produces high yields, reaching 8 kg/m3.²This variety has undoubtedly become a favorite among vegetable growers due to its large, fleshy fruits weighing 200 g, with 0.7 mm thick walls and a juicy, sweet flavor. It is suitable for both fresh consumption and canning.

The Bogatyr variety is a mid-season variety: the fruits reach full maturity 150–160 days after the first shoots appear. Bogatyr is easy to grow and resistant to many diseases. Developed by Moldovan breeders, it is ideal for open-field cultivation in southern regions, while in temperate climates, it is best grown in greenhouses.

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Advantages of the Bogatyr variety

• Generous yield.
• Beautiful fruit shape.
• Simultaneous germination of seeds.
• Simultaneous ripeness and fruit yield.
• Disease resistance.
• Resistance to temperature changes.
• Fruiting begins in August and continues until the frosts.
• The variety is cultivated in open and closed ground.
• Pepper seedlings are resistant to light frosts.
• The fruits are extremely rich in vitamin C and microelements.

Disadvantages of the Bogatyr variety

The variety does not tolerate dry soil and lack of sun, and is also susceptible to some pests.

Preparing seeds for sowing

• Typically, seeds no older than 3 years are used for sowing, since fresh material has the best germination rate.
• The seeds are then soaked in a 5% salt solution for half an hour. Any poor-quality seeds will float to the surface and are unsuitable for planting.
• Next, the selected seeds are placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection (1 g of potassium permanganate per 100 ml of water) for half an hour.
• The final step is to soak the seeds in a growth stimulator for 3 hours to increase productivity.
• Now begin germinating the planting material. To do this, wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and leave them at 25°C for a week. The cloth should be moistened periodically.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Small containers are suitable for planting seeds; it is a good idea to wash them with a weak solution of potassium permanganate before use.

The soil for planting seeds is prepared from a mixture of fertile soil, compost, and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1. Seeds are sown in late February or early March.

Fill the containers with prepared soil, place the seeds on top, 2 cm apart, and water. Top with 1 cm of soil. Cover the containers with any transparent material and place them in a bright, warm room. The room temperature should be around 25°C.

About two weeks after the sprouts emerge, the transparent material is removed. The seedlings are now hardened off: to do this, the ambient temperature is reduced to 17°C for a week, and then raised again to 25°C.

The room containing the seedlings should be ventilated daily, but drafts should be avoided.

Two weeks after the emergence of sprouts, the soil with seedlings is fertilized with a solution of potassium humate (2 liters of water and 5 ml of potassium humate) once every 5 days.

Important! Seedlings require 14 hours of light per day. If daylight is insufficient, grow lights. Otherwise, the shoots will grow tall, thin, and weak.

Picking seedlings

This procedure is performed after the seedlings have developed two leaves, as sweet peppers do not transplant well. The following points should be considered:

• Water the container containing the seedlings generously. Meanwhile, prepare small pots, rinse them with potassium permanganate, and fill them with soil identical to that used for sowing the seeds.
• Carefully grasp the sprout by the leaves, lift it from underneath with a spoon, and carefully transfer it, soil and all, to a new container, topping it with soil. Be sure to water it.
• The pots can be placed on the windowsill, but cover the glass with paper to avoid direct sunlight.
• The temperature of the environment for peppers after picking should not be below 15°C, otherwise their growth may stop.
• Seedlings need to be fed. Ready-made fertilizers (such as Krepysh or Fertika Lux) can be used for this purpose. The first feeding should be done two weeks after transplanting, and the second two weeks later.
• Three days before planting in open ground, keep the seedlings outside overnight to harden them.

Transplantation into open ground

When the seedlings reach a height of 25 cm and have 7-8 leaves, it's time to transplant them into the garden. Loamy or sandy loam soil and an average daily temperature of 15°C are ideal for the Bogatyr variety. Cabbage, pumpkin, cucumbers, legumes, and carrots are ideal precursors for peppers.

Before planting, the soil must be prepared in advance. To do this, it should be dug deeply, fertilized with compost, and leveled. Next, dig holes 15 cm apart. The distance between the rows should be 50 cm. The plant is moved into the holes, along with clods of soil. Each hole is half-filled with soil, watered thoroughly, and then completely filled.

Watering peppers

Although the Bogatyr variety is relatively low-maintenance, it still requires care. Particular attention should be paid to watering. Watering begins five days after planting, using room-temperature water. The watering process is carried out in two stages. On the first day, water one side of the plant while loosening the soil on the other. On the second day, water the other side. This will prevent crusting of the soil.

Harvesting and storage

The peppers can be harvested at the technical maturity stage. They transport well, retain their marketable appearance, and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months. The peppers are carefully cut off with scissors, stems included.

Fully ripe fruits cannot be stored for long periods of time, so they should be used immediately after harvesting.

Reviews from vegetable growers

According to reviews, this pepper variety produces quite vigorous fruit sets and few empty flowers. It always pleases with a bountiful harvest of large, sweet, and juicy fruits.