Early-ripening peppers – varieties for open ground and greenhouses

Sweet peppers are a favorite among vegetable growers and gardeners. However, many assume that achieving a high-quality and abundant harvest in our climate is very difficult. Bell peppers are indeed finicky, but growing this heat-loving vegetable is quite possible. To do this, you first need to carefully select a variety suitable for your specific growing conditions.

Thus, to achieve excellent yields in areas with unstable climate and short summers, the most suitable areearly-ripening varieties of peppers, which have good germination, fast ripening, disease resistance, unpretentiousness and high productivity.

What is early-ripening pepper and general growing rules?

The name itself speaks of the early ripening time of these vegetables. To obtain fully ripened sweet peppers, early-ripening varieties are the best choice for planting. Given the short summer season, 80-90-day-old seedlings are used for planting in the ground.

It is necessary to adhere to certain conditions for growing early varieties:

1. Only seedlings should be planted in the ground.
2. The seeds are sown in individual peat cups, as young seedlings do not tolerate picking well.
3. The soil mixture for future seedlings is selected to be loose, containing humus, sand, and soil.
4. Do not allow the substrate to dry out, but do not overwater the seedlings to prevent the appearance of “black leg”.
5. After planting seedlings in the area, it is recommended to carefully observe the temperature regime and adhere to proper watering.
6. Early-ripening vegetable varieties require seed germination. It's recommended to sow the seeds in February-March after soaking them in warm water for a while.
7. If the seedlings were grown indoors, they should be transplanted to a greenhouse in March for adaptation and rooting. It's important to ensure that both the soil and the ambient temperature remain at least 15 degrees Celsius. Failure to do so will stunt the seedlings' development and reduce their yield.

   

8. In summer, when the temperature reaches +35 degrees, the plantation should be shaded.
9. When the plants grow up and reach a height of 15-20 cm, the tops need to be pinched to allow the vegetable crop to branch out.
10. Every ten days, inspect the plant for pests and any excess shoots that may be crowding the plant. Overly elongated shoots should be trimmed back, and any shoots growing below the main fork of the stem should be removed.
11. Almost all early varieties of vegetable crops are low-growing, so they do not require tying or strengthening of growth points on trellises.
12. Pepper requires proper watering and fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers in alternation.
13. It is important to regularly loosen the soil around the bushes so that the plant receives the necessary amount of oxygen.
14. It's not recommended to plant sweet varieties next to bitter ones, as pollination between these crops will result in bitterness in the sweet ones. To prevent this, maintain a distance of 100 meters between the crops.

Early-ripening pepper varieties for open ground

Experienced breeders have now developed many high-quality varieties for open ground.

Lumina

This variety is highly sought after by gardeners and homesteaders due to its excellent taste, ease of cultivation, drought tolerance, and long shelf life (3 months) without changing its appearance or flavor. It grows on low bushes. The cone-shaped fruits are small in weight (up to 115 g), and their color ranges from light green to golden. The thickness is 6 mm.

Ivanhoe

This variety is relatively new, but is already in high demand due to its good germination rate and rapid ripening. The peppers are ready to eat 110 days after germination. However, they reach full maturity in just 20 days. Therefore, the taste of unripe peppers differs significantly from that of fully ripened ones.

Ivanhoe – beautiful orange or red, elongated in shape and weighing up to 130 g. Medium fleshiness – up to 7 mm. Small, compact, and space-saving. They don't require special training or staking. Easy to maintain, resistant to temperature fluctuations and various diseases. Can withstand small hail.

Marinka's Tongue

Marinkin Yazychok, developed by Dnipropetrovsk breeders, thrives in harsh climates and produces consistent growth. Therefore, many gardeners prefer this sweet pepper.

Plants produce up to 15 small-sized peppers when planted densely in a plot. However, if planted sparsely, a single plant will grow up to 75 cm tall and produce fruits weighing 250 g each. In this case, the plant requires support. The peppers are dark red, slightly curved, conical, and have a pleasant flavor and aroma. The flesh is juicy, reaching 10 mm in diameter. They do not store well, lasting only 1.5 months.

Triton

This super-early variety tolerates adverse weather, including in southern Siberia, including heavy rains and temperature fluctuations. It is sought after for its high yield, with each plant producing 35-45 fruits weighing 130 grams each. These fruits are conical to round, medium-fleshy, orange and red in color, sweet and aromatic. To promote abundant fruit set and accelerate growth, the first fruit should be removed. Otherwise, the crop may lag in development, resulting in reduced growth.

Atlantic F1

The bush is quite tall, reaching up to 1 meter in height, so it requires support. It takes about three months from planting to the hybrid's full maturity. They are distinguished by good disease and pest resistance. Atlantic Large, elongated, barrel-shaped, and fleshy, weighing up to 450 grams. It's used in canning, salads, and fresh eating. Open soil and greenhouses are ideal places to grow this hybrid.

Red Square

A super-early vegetable crop. The bushes are low, reaching 70 cm. Harvesting is possible within three months of planting. It is resistant to various viral diseases. The red square is quite large, weighing up to 300 grams, and is shaped like a cube with internal partitions. When fully ripe, it turns red. The flesh is thick, with a wall thickness of 9 mm. It transports and stores well.

Czardas

The chardas is relatively short (70 cm), compact, and grows in clusters. It produces a good yield (up to 17 per bush). The fruits are cone-shaped and large, weighing up to 220 g. The wall is 6 mm thick and medium-fleshy. The ovaries form in clusters. Fully ripe peppers are orange-red. While technically ripe, the peppers can be eaten, but fully ripened ones are preferred.

Actor

This variety is renowned for its large red fruits, weighing up to 300 g, which ripen in 130 days of growth. Each fruit has an elongated cone shape. Initially ripening, it has a bright light green color, turning red as it matures. The flesh is tasty, juicy, and meaty.

The lily is relatively tall, reaching 140 cm, and is very branched. Therefore, planting more than four bushes per square meter is not recommended. However, a single square meter of planting yields up to 11 kg of fruit. The plant is very undemanding in terms of growing conditions, requires no special care, and is disease-resistant.

Conceited

An unusual variety characterized by prismatic peppers that grow upward rather than downward. Each fruit reaches a weight of 150 g, fleshy, juicy, and delicious. At first ripening, it is dark green, gradually turning red as it matures. Ripening time is 3.5 months. Disease-resistant. Zaznaika is very productive, yielding up to 10 kg of peppers per square meter, with long-lasting shelf life.

Selecting early peppers for greenhouse cultivation

To obtain a high early harvest, many gardeners grow early-ripening peppers in a greenhouse.

Apricot Favorite

High-yielding, intended for cultivation in greenhouse conditions, but under favorable climatic conditions, this variety has also proven itself in open soils.

The bushes are low-growing (40-50 cm). The fruits are cone-shaped, smooth, and glossy. The wall thickness is 7 mm. When fully ripe, they acquire a bright orange color. They are distinguished by their exceptional juiciness. Suitable for all types of use: from fresh consumption to canning.

Agapovsky

This early-ripening variety is distinguished by its resistance to rot diseases and good yield. The bush is medium-height (60-80 cm). Staking is sometimes required. The fruits are large, smooth, prismatic, and not very ribbed. The ovary is bright green, turning bright red when fully ripe.

Belladonna F1

This early hybrid is ideal for greenhouse cultivation. However, it can also produce good yields outdoors, provided all cultivation practices are met. The bush is medium-sized and compact (60-80 cm). The fruits are large, cube-shaped, smooth, bright yellow, and medium-fleshy. The hybrid is resistant to viral diseases.

Star of the East Chocolate F1

These early hybrids are characterized by their remarkable flavor, unusual coloring, and resistance to many diseases. The plant is medium-sized, branched, and vigorous (70 cm). The hybrids are quite large, cylindrical, glossy, and fleshy. A dark brown color indicates full maturity. They are high-yielding and transport and store well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Due to the short ripening period from sowing seeds in the ground to the moment of harvesting, early ripening varieties of sweet pepper ideal for growing even during unstable summer periods.