Bychok Pepper: Characteristics and Description of the Variety (Photo)

The Bychok pepper is a variety of sweet pepper widely grown in Russia. As more and more gardeners dream of growing peppers in their gardens, planning to use the harvest as part of a vitamin-rich salad or for winter preserves, it's worth taking a closer look at the variety's characteristics, its strengths and weaknesses, and growing recommendations.

Description of the variety

Although the Bychok pepper is sometimes referred to as the Bulgarian pepper, it has thrived in various regions of Russia. Depending on the climate, it takes 3-4 months to harvest the first crop.

This variety is classified as a spreading plant, reaching half a meter in height. The leaves are green and medium-sized, with a slightly wrinkled surface.

When ripe, the Bychok pepper takes on a conical shape, rounded with a slightly tapered top and slight ribbing. Inside, it contains several chambers containing seeds. The fruit wall reaches 5-6 mm and is characterized by juiciness, pleasant flavor, and aroma.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pepper Bychok has become widespread due to a number of undeniable advantages:

1. This species belongs to the universal varieties that take root in different climatic zones.
2. The variety showed good results in greenhouse conditions and when planted in open ground.
3. One of the undoubted advantages of this pepper variety is its high yield. A plot of one square meter can yield approximately 5 kg or more.
4. During the selection process, the variety was grafted against fungal infections and other plant-threatening diseases. This makes gardening easier.
5. The fruits of this pepper variety are distinguished not only by their high vitamin content but also by their pleasant taste. Numerous culinary recipes have been developed using them, ensuring a consistently high demand for this type of pepper.

When growing this crop, it's important to consider that insufficient light and heat can affect the health of the seedlings and reduce yield. Among the main drawbacks, gardeners cite the high cost of seeds.

Timing of seedling preparation

To ensure a summer harvest, you should begin preparing seedlings in late February or early March. This requires preparing fertile soil.

Once the container is filled with soil, seeds are placed into it at a depth of 1-1.5 cm. The distance between future seedlings should be such that their root systems do not interfere with each other.

After the seeds have sprouted, wait until the first two true leaves appear on the plants. For experienced gardeners, this is a sign that determines when to transplant the plants. After transplanting into individual containers, water them. After two weeks, fertilize the soil under the seedlings with a liquid fertilizer, available at the store.

Planting in the ground

Towards the end of spring, it's time to plant peppers outdoors. It takes 40-60 days from sowing the seeds to the start of this process. To ensure the seedlings take root well in their new soil, don't start this process too early. Leaving young peppers indoors for longer than 60 days can cause them to grow too large, making transportation and planting difficult.

To ensure good growth, it's important to select a location for the garden bed and prepare it properly. The choice will be greatly influenced by the crop planted in the area last season. Pepper seedlings will thrive in areas previously planted with:

• onion;
• cucumbers;
• pumpkin;
• cabbage;
• zucchini:
• carrot.

It's worth remembering that heavy clay soil isn't ideal for this plant variety. Conditions in such soil can be improved by fertilizing it with peat or compost. Before planting the peppers, prepare the holes. They should be spaced 30 cm apart and 50 cm between rows. This will ensure that each seedling has the opportunity to fully develop its root system.

Immediately before placing the plant in the hole, add a spoonful of mineral fertilizer to the bottom and mix it with the soil. Remove the seedling from the container, being careful not to damage its root system. Then, carefully transfer it to the hole.

Care Features

Caring for pepper shoots includes 4 mandatory elements:

• watering;
• weeding;
• loosening;
• top dressing.

Water is one of the most essential conditions for growth. For watering, use only warm liquid, around 24 degrees Celsius. Some gardeners use plastic bottles for this purpose. They fill them with water and leave them in the sun. During the day, the sun's rays warm their contents to the desired temperature.

The amount of water required varies between before and after flowering. After planting outdoors, watering is required once a week, or twice a week in dry weather. Once flowering and fruiting begin, increase the watering to two or three times a week.

Free access of air to plant roots is essential for good growth and fruiting. Therefore, loosening the soil is essential after watering or precipitation.

Fertilize the plants approximately 4-5 times per season. For this purpose, use bird droppings diluted with water at a ratio of 1:15, or slurry at a ratio of 1:10. Although the Bychok variety is considered grafted, be prepared to treat it for diseases or pests if necessary.

When harvesting, two types of fruit ripening are distinguished:

• technical maturity is determined by the fruit reaching a certain shape without acquiring the corresponding color;
• Biological ripeness means that the fruit fully complies with the parameters of size, color, and shape.

In some cases, it's not worth waiting for the fruit to fully ripen on the vine. Once it reaches technical maturity, it will develop the desired color during storage.

Reviews of the variety

Gardeners' opinions on the Bychok variety vary. Some prefer the fruits fully ripened on the vine, while others recommend picking them green to ensure they ripen in storage. There is no disagreement regarding the quantity and quality of the harvested fruits.

Growing strong seedlings can be challenging for beginning gardeners. However, with the right temperature and light conditions, this problem gradually disappears.

Marina Sergeevna, 47 years old, Azov:

I've been growing peppers for a long time. This variety is very prolific, producing a good harvest every year. The main thing is to care for it properly.

Igor, 38 years old, Sunzha village, Stavropol Krai:

I planted the "Bychok" pepper variety for the first time. I got a good harvest. It's very tasty. I plan to plant this variety again next year.

Conclusion

To summarize: the Bychok pepper is one of the most common mid-season varieties of this plant, characterized by high yields. The size and flavor of the fruit allow it to be eaten fresh or used as an ingredient in preserves.

The key to growing healthy, fruitful plants is planting seeds correctly and at the right time. In April or May, seedlings can be placed in a greenhouse or open ground, depending on conditions. Watering, loosening the soil, fertilizing, and protecting against diseases and pests are essential elements of proper care. If all conditions are met, the plant will produce a bountiful harvest of fruit, which can be harvested at technical or biological maturity.