Characteristics and description of the pepper "Health"

This pepper variety, listed in the Russian State Register, has been known to gardeners for over three decades. Thanks to its ability to grow, flower, and bear fruit even without adequate light, it is approved for cultivation even in the northernmost and easternmost regions—from Murmansk to Magadan.

Characterizing "Health"

Description of the variety

Pepper is rich in beneficial microelements, especially vitamin C. Even its name suggests this.

The pepper plant is a tall, spreading bush, reaching an average height of one and a half meters or slightly higher. Therefore, it is often grown on a trellis. "Health" is ideal for both greenhouses and open fields.

This variety is early maturing, and the peppers themselves ripen uniformly and abundantly. The harvest begins in just 80 days. A square meter yields up to 6 kilograms of fruit.

Fruit characteristics

The fruits of this variety have the following parameters:

• length – from 8 to 12 cm,
• diameter – from 5 to 6.5 cm,
• walls up to 4 mm thick,
• weight – about 50 g each.

The peppers are meaty, prismatic, and have a slightly ribbed surface. When ripe, the fruits are green, turning bright red when ripe. The skin is tender, and the flesh is juicy and dense.

The peppers are renowned for their excellent flavor and excellent fruit set even in low light conditions. They are used for canning, fresh eating, and salads. Their small size allows them to be preserved without cutting. This variety is also suitable for assorted dishes and lecho.

Varietal advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of these peppers are:

• rich in vitamin C,
• early ripening,
• resistance to blossom-end rot,
• simultaneous pouring of up to 15 fruits,
• good shelf life,
• suitability for transportation,
• versatility of application.

How to Grow "Health"

Sowing dates

These peppers are early maturing, with harvest time ranging from 80 to 90 days. Seedlings should be about two months old by planting time, so this is a crucial time to plant.

Important: Consider the climate of the growing region. Gardeners in Siberia and the Urals, as well as those living in the northwestern regions, are advised to sow these peppers in the first half of March. Those in the temperate climate zone should sow in mid-February, while those in the southern regions should sow early in the month. Don't let the seedlings overgrow. The first buds are considered the signal for transplanting.

Growing conditions and agricultural technology

For sowing, choose loamy, well-drained soil. It's also important to ensure the right temperature for seed germination. It should be moist and around 25°C.

Pricking out seedlings into pots begins when the bushes have developed a couple of true leaves. This is not necessary when sowing seeds in individual jars.

When growing peppers in a permanent location, it's important to maintain a planting density of 35 x 50 cm. When cultivating the variety in a greenhouse in early April, harvesting is possible within a month.

As for the agricultural practices for the "Health" peppers, this is a traditional set: watering, loosening the soil and weeding, as well as:

1. fertilizing with complex fertilizers – 2-3 times;
2. tying to a support to ensure the integrity of the bushes when there is a large number of fruits;
3. bush formation for higher yields.

About possible pests and diseases of peppers "Health"

These peppers may be attacked by the following parasites:

1. Spider mites. Products such as Fitoverm, Kraft, Akarin, and Kleschevit are used to control them.
2. Aphids. Ladybugs, Actellic and Fufanon, and a soap solution (40 ml of liquid soap per 10 liters of water) are helpful for their elimination.
3. Slugs. To repel them, use shag for soil treatment, and grow tobacco nearby, which is also effective against spider mites, leaf rollers, and flea beetles.
4. Cutworms, not butterflies but caterpillars, gnaw at the leaves and stems of peppers. Pheromone traps, regular loosening of the beds, and tilling of the soil before the first frost help attract them.

Despite the resistance to blossom end rot, there are other problems that should be anticipated or addressed at early signs.

• The term "black leg" refers to a darkening of the root collar, followed by wilting of the plant. In this case, the soil should be loosened and sprayed with a "zaslon" (screen) solution.
• The appearance of hard black spots on fruit indicates late blight. Use "Barrier" or "Oxychom" to treat the problem.
• Stolbur, which causes peppers to change shape and turn yellow. Weeding and loosening the soil are important, as is prompt removal of diseased plants.
• Spotted wilt begins to affect the upper part of the plant. The leaves take on a blue, bronze hue. Be sure to treat the variety with Fundazol, and clean your hands with a potassium permanganate solution after handling.

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Eyewitness accounts

Leonid, a 54-year-old gardener from Perm, notes the peppers' excellent flavor, even when green. The plants were grown in a greenhouse, and the climate suited them perfectly.

Valentina, 43, from the Moscow region, planted seedlings in a greenhouse when they were 45 days old. A temperature of around 25°C (77°F), generous weekly watering, support, and pinching were crucial. A delicious and abundant harvest was harvested at the end of summer.

Nikolai and Elena, 38, from the Leningrad region, have been growing this variety for three years. They like these peppers for their quick ripening and simple care, but remember to tie them to a support structure due to the plant's height.

"Health" is the perfect pepper choice for beginners and those in low-light areas. This variety ripens quickly and produces a surprisingly large quantity of fruit.