Viking Pepper – Description, Variety, Photos, Features, Characteristics, Reviews

There are currently a large number of pepper varieties, among which the 'Viking' stands out. Thanks to its excellent characteristics, it's a favorite among gardeners, with excellent reviews of its yield. And looking at the photos of the harvest, one is tempted to try these beautiful, bright red fruits.

Description

It was bred relatively recently, in 1996, but within a few years it had already achieved a key position. More and more gardeners are choosing it for planting in their gardens.

In the south and central regions of Russia, excellent harvests are obtained from bushes planted in open ground. In more northern regions, peppers are grown in greenhouses, with the exception of the Far North.

A number of advantageous characteristics:

1. The fruits ripen quickly, within 110 days. At this time, they reach their technical maturity.
2. The bushes are of medium height, so they can be grown in low greenhouses and film beds.
3. At the same time, 2 to 4 fruits can be set on the bushes.
4. This variety can be grown in open ground and greenhouses;
5. The bushes have compact sizes.
6. Resistant to various diseases, especially to the negative impact of such a pathogenic substance as tobacco mosaic.
7. Adapts to any weather conditions.
8. The bushes are unpretentious and universal.
9. Peppers ripen at the same time.

The large fruits are prismatic. The skin is smooth and glossy. Each peppercorn averages around 200 g, but some weigh 250 to 300 g. The walls are 4 to 5 mm thick. Depending on ripeness, the fruits range in color from green to deep red.

Many amateur gardeners note the excellent taste of "Viking".

They say the fruit has juicy, firm flesh with a slight peppery aroma. Because of this characteristic, many housewives add it as a key ingredient in salads and other home cooking recipes. This variety also makes an excellent preserve.

Features of cultivation

For planting, choose light, fertile soil. Suitable areas include those previously used for:

• cabbage;
• pumpkin;
• onion;
• cucumbers.

A good harvest will certainly be achieved if planted after green manure.

Sowing seeds for seedlings begins late winter – early spring (February-March)First, the seeds are tested for germination. To do this, dissolve a spoonful of salt in 1 cup of clean water and stir thoroughly.

Then, place the pepper seeds in the resulting solution. If they float on the surface, discard them, as they won't germinate.

After selecting the necessary seeds, gardeners place them in a solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect them. Three to five drops of potassium permanganate are added to a small amount of water. The seeds are then soaked in the resulting solution for 1.5 to 2 hours.

It's also recommended to soak the seeds in herbal remedies. Experts recommend using Epins-Extra or Kemire for this purpose. Alternatively, you can make your own herbal remedy at home using aloe juice.

Prepare boxes or peat pots ahead of time and fill them with soil. Typically, store-bought soil prepared for growing peppers is used. Before planting, the soil should be steamed or heated in the oven.

After planting, the soil is thoroughly watered and then covered with plastic film or glass. The pots with seeds are stored in a warm, bright place, maintaining a temperature of 23 to 25 degrees Celsius. Once the first shoots appear, the glass or film is removed.

A month before planting, the seedlings need to be hardened off. To do this, place the pots on a balcony or veranda. Initially, the plants should be exposed to cold for short periods, gradually increasing their exposure to cold temperatures to 7-8 hours. Seedlings are usually brought in overnight shortly before planting, as this will help prevent frost damage.

The seedlings are planted in specially prepared holes, spaced 40 cm apart. This will ensure the plants receive sufficient nutrients. The distance between rows should be 60 cm.

Before planting, fill each hole halfway with nutrient-rich soil or a mixture of soil and fertilizer. Then, place the plant in the hole, carefully spread out the root system, and cover it with soil.

After this, the seedlings should be thoroughly watered and tied to pegs driven into the ground before planting.

The plant is quite undemanding. Therefore, watering and one or two fertilizing sessions are the only measures that help the bushes establish themselves well. This pepper plant is fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. It is advisable to loosen the soil and weed it, removing all weeds.

How to increase harvest

To get the best possible harvest, you should follow these rules:

1. The root system must be carefully planted, so care must be taken when planting. Furthermore, the stakes that will support the bushes are driven in before planting.
2. In conditions of high humidity, the bushes are covered with polyethylene, which will prevent the plant from rotting.
3. To increase the harvest, it is necessary to get rid of the first flowers.
4. To ensure that the fruits are not bitter, do not plant Viking with bitter varieties.

Reviews from gardeners

This pepper variety has many positive characteristics, as evidenced by the reviews of those who have planted it. In particular, many gardeners note that it is disease-resistant, easy to grow, and produces a high yield.

Vladislav, 35 years old, Bryansk region:

"I've been growing 'Viking' for three years now. I love that it produces a large harvest with minimal effort, and the delicious fruit can be stored for a long time."

Svetlana, 50 years old, Voronezh:

"I planted 'Viking' for the first time this year. I read on the package that the bushes were medium-sized, but mine grew to almost a meter in height, so I had to tie them up.

I didn't expect a big harvest, as the summer was cold and rainy, but my expectations were not met and I was pleasantly surprised, as the fruits quickly began to ripen, and their very sweet taste did not go unnoticed by any of my household members.

My husband, who hates peppers in any form, ate them and praised them. Now I plan to plant this pepper every year and recommend it to everyone."