Victoria Pepper: Variety Description with Photos and Reviews

Thanks to new breeding advances, a remarkable pepper variety, 'Victoria,' has emerged. Today, it's a leading high-yielding variety and is very popular with gardeners, summer residents, and amateur gardeners. This crop thrives not only in greenhouses but also in open ground and requires little care.

Its fruits hold up well during transportation and don't become stale during long-term storage. Their flavor is in no way inferior to other pepper varieties.

'Victoria' is a truly southern variety, so it needs just one season to develop. Farmers replace this season with seedling cultivation. When transplanting, the plant requires some attention, as the pepper's root system is very sensitive to change.

History and characteristics

This variety was developed in the Republic of Moldova from two equally well-known varieties ("Gift of Moldova" and "Lastochka") and, accordingly, is primarily grown in the same region. It easily thrives in Ukraine and southern Russia. It can also grow in colder climates, but requires special conditions.

Rich black soil was once essential for its cultivation, but over the years, gardeners have adapted the Victoria pepper to the more complex soil conditions used in greenhouses. This variety also boasts strong frost resistance, but only after it has established itself in the soil.

Young seedlings still require protection from the weather, which is why experienced farmers recommend planting them after the last May frosts.

Appearance

The fruit's appearance is little different from that of a common southern pepper. They are streamlined, cone-shaped, drooping toward the ground, with virtually invisible edges on all four sides. Their first ripeness, called technical ripeness, gives them a green or light yellow color. Full ripeness turns them bright red. Each individual fruit reaches a fairly large size (up to 10 cm) and weighs approximately 100 grams, as it is distinguished by its thick, fleshy walls.

Utility

The fruits have an unforgettable, rich aroma, are juicy, and rich in vitamins and minerals. They contain:

• Vitamins C, E, A, B3, B5, B6;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• phosphorus;
• calcium.

Its rich composition makes it beneficial to eat fresh. When cooked, the pepper's flesh imparts an unforgettable flavor and aroma that will enhance any dish.

Viability

Pepper is resistant to black rot, fungal infection (caused by a pathogen from the genus Verticillium), and tobacco mosaic virus (Tobacco mosaicvirus, TMV).

It's worth noting, however, that infection by the above-mentioned method is particularly pronounced in cultivated plants like peppers. This is why storage and transportation are a distinctive feature of the "Victoria" variety.

For example, peppers can be stored in a cellar for up to a month, the main thing is not to place the fruits too close to each other.

Planting

Pepper is a medium-sized plant, reaching a maximum height of no more than 50 cm. It thrives in both large planting spaces and small plastic shelters.

Planted in the last month of winter using seedlings. The seedlings mature indoors in no more than 9-10 weeks, after which they are ready to be transplanted to their permanent location.

This usually happens in the last month of spring, the latest planting date is early summer. Find out, How to plant pepper seedlings.

Experienced gardeners and homesteaders know that when transplanting, leave 45-50 cm between individual seedlings. This will allow the bushes to develop undisturbed. Leave 2-3 cm between the ground and the first leaves, as the stems are still thin and can easily break.

Agrotechnical approach

Throughout the growing season for the Victoria, emerging petals are removed from the single stem down to its fork. This is necessary to ensure the plant devotes all its energy to fruit growth rather than foliage. Upper branches that are too heavy with foliage are also pruned, and dried leaves are removed.

Regular weeding, loosening the soil, and watering will help peppers grow undisturbed and produce a bountiful harvest. And systematic soil care through fertilization will enrich and facilitate this process.

Timely fertilizing will help the plant stay healthy. The first fertilizing should occur when two good leaves appear. You can use sodium or potassium humate according to the instructions (the main component is humic substances), as well as urea (1/2 teaspoon).

Any fertilizer should be diluted in one liter of water. The second fertilizer should be applied about ten days after the first. Micronutrient fertilizers are also used to promote seedling growth.

Reviews

Reviews of "Victoria" are overwhelmingly positive. It's easy to grow, frost-resistant, and can thrive in any region, even in Siberia. Gardeners are delighted by its fruitfulness, as a single plant can yield a large harvest.

Sima

I never thought I would see so much fruit on one bush, but the main thing is to remove excess leaves in a timely manner.

Anna

The good news is that the peppers keep for a long time. We transported them from my mom's house for several days in a regular basket, with newspaper between them. Everything arrived safe and sound.

Elena

An exceptionally juicy and meaty variety, it's perfect for winter salads. It makes a very thick lecho.

Veronica

I thought peppers like these would never thrive in Siberia, but I was wrong. Of course, you have to plant them in February and transplant them closer to summer into a good greenhouse with thick plastic, but how happy we were with the harvest!