Red Shovel Pepper: Variety Characteristics and Description, Reviews

There are so many different types of red peppers that sometimes gardeners are faced with a difficult choice – which variety to plant in their garden. The tasty and juicy "Red Shovel" pepper is considered a southern native. This variety produces an early harvest and is quite versatile for various preserves.

Description and characteristics of the variety

This pepper has a large, spade-shaped form and ripens fairly early. It grows into medium-sized, compact bushes, ranging from 55 to 80 cm. The plant's stems are strong, but staking the branches is recommended due to its abundant harvest. Mature fruits can grow to the size of a palm, flattened laterally. The pepper's walls are thick, 8-10 mm wide, and the fruit weighs up to 145 grams. When the plant reaches maturity, the fruits turn bright red, and as they ripen, they turn dark green. This variety is considered one of the most successful bell peppers; it thrives in the garden and is excellent for canning.

Peppers contain essential vitamins: B1, B2, B9, PP, and H, as well as calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and iodine. They also contain ascorbic acid and lycopene, a natural oxidant responsible for the vegetable's red color. The calorie content per 100 g is 27 kcal. The "Red Shovel" peppers have a distinct aroma and a sweet, peppery flavor. Thanks to their dense walls, this variety tolerates transportation well without losing its valuable qualities.

Growing and care

'Red Spade' is ideal for growing both in a greenhouse and outdoors. It responds well to watering and fertilizing. It is recommended to germinate seeds for seedlings in advance, beginning in late February, approximately 55-70 days before planting in a garden bed or greenhouse. The seeds adapt well to temperatures of 26-28°C and are planted in small pots at a depth of 1.5-2 cm. When the plant forms its first 1-2 leaves, it should be pricked out.

Important to know: When growing seedlings, make sure there are no drafts or cold from the window, otherwise the plant may slow down in growth.

Peppers can be planted in greenhouses as early as early May, and in open ground in early June, when there's no longer a risk of frost. Planting holes are dug 40 cm apart. This results in 3-5 plants per square meter. Harvesting takes place between early August and mid-September. Up to 6.5 kg of peppers can be harvested per square meter.

Growing tips

1. It is recommended to plant peppers in open ground on cloudy days or in the afternoon at a temperature of 18°C, when there is a low risk of the plant getting sunburned.
2. The first feeding is carried out on the 13-14th day after planting the vegetable in the garden bed, and the second one on the 10th day after the first watering with fertilizers.
3. It is not recommended to plant sweet bell pepper varieties near bitter varieties, as the plant may acquire bitterness from its “neighbor” during pollination.

AttentionTo ensure that the plant is favourably pollinated by bees, you should place insect bait, for example, parsley, apple peels or coriander between the rows.

Reviews

Maria

I'm an experienced gardener and really love growing the "Red Spade" variety. I recommend everyone dig up the sturdy bushes in the fall after harvesting and plant them in pots indoors. It gives you an extra winter harvest.

Stepan

A very productive and undemanding plant. Despite the large volume of fruit, it turned out to be easy to preserve.

Vasily

This is the third time I've planted this variety. And every year I get a wonderful harvest. This pepper has never let me down. The fruits are beautiful and delicious.

The "Red Shovel" pepper has proven to be very easy to grow. Even a novice can reap a bountiful harvest from this variety. The appetizing red fruits will delight any gardener who dares to grow them.

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