The largest varieties of sweet peppers in the Moscow region

When someone decides to take up gardening professionally, they strive to maximize their harvest. This is true for both home gardeners and farmers looking to sell the fruits of their labor. However, to maximize the yield from your plot, it's important to select the right pepper varieties for your specific region, taking into account the local climate.

Central Russia is relatively unsuitable for common peppers, which thrive in warmer climates. However, thanks to breeders, special varieties have been developed that thrive in temperate continental climates. In many areas of the Moscow region, large peppers are grown both in greenhouses and in open fields.

The largest varieties of pepper

The common pepper is quite small in size and not adapted to a temperate climate. Therefore, there are special varieties that can be grown in the Moscow region, and they will produce a bountiful harvest with proper care. But before buying seeds, it's important to know the different varieties and their advantages.

Boatswain

This variety is considered mid-early. Its fruits ripen approximately 150 days after the first shoots appear. Due to the relatively long time between germination and harvest, seedling propagation is considered optimal.

Characteristics of the variety:

• fruits are elongated, distinctly cubic in shape;
• the pod contains 3–4 nests;
• the weight of ripe peppers varies from 380 to 500 g;
• fruits reach their maximum size on the 120th day;
• After technical maturity, the pepper needs another month to turn completely red;
• The plant is an indeterminate species and reaches a height of 150-300 cm, depending on the growing location.

This variety is considered a high-yielding, large-sized cultivar, yielding 16-18 kg of fruit per square meter with proper care. However, this yield is only achievable in greenhouses, provided they are planted fairly early.

Because the plant doesn't stop growing after a certain number of shoots appear, it will continue to bear fruit as long as favorable conditions persist. Therefore, to avoid nutrient leakage, side shoots are removed, leaving only the main stem (sometimes it's recommended to leave the very first side shoot). This is where all fruit buds emerge as the plant grows taller.

Grenadier

A mid-season hybrid pepper, characterized by high yields from a small area. The plant is indeterminate and reaches a height of 160–280 cm.

Characteristics of the variety:

1. The fruits are shaped like a prism, with a drooping nose.
2. Each pepper contains 3 nests.
3. Due to the fact that the pods are quite large and have thick walls, their weight can vary from 550 to 650 g.
4. Pepper reaches its maximum size 120 days after germination, but it takes another 30-40 days for true maturity.
5. Ripeness is determined by color; when the pepper reaches a rich red hue, it can be picked from the bush.

Bourgeois

This mid-early variety ripens 140 days after the first shoots emerge. Planting occurs in March, and harvesting occurs in June. It's best to grow the seeds using seedlings to avoid germination issues.

Specifications:

1. The fruits are smaller, cubic in shape.
2. The weight of one pod varies from 200 to 250 g.
3. When ripe, they have a rich yellow color, which is why they are often grown for allergy sufferers.
4. The bush is indeterminate, reaching a height of 2.5–3 m.

Claudio

This hybrid pepper is considered an early variety because it completes its entire growing season in 80-90 days. It is a determinate variety, meaning it stops growing after a certain number of ovaries have formed. Claudio stops growing when it has 8-12 fruits.

Specifications:

• the fruits have the shape of a prism, elongated downwards;
• the weight of the pod varies from 200 to 250 g;
• when technically ripe, the colour is dark green;
• when biological maturity is reached, the color changes to crimson;
• The yield is high and can reach 20 kg.

King Kong

Sweet pepper is a mid-season subspecies with a fairly abundant fruiting. The bush is modest in size, ranging from 50 to 70 cm in height, yet quite compact. Unlike indeterminate plants, this variety has a standard structure, meaning it retains several side shoots, which are where the fruit sets.

Specifications:

• the fruits are cubic in shape;
• wall thickness varies from 6 to 9 mm;
• the weight of one pod reaches 500 g;
• yield per square meter is 7.5 kg (in greenhouses the yield per meter reaches 9 kg);
• They reach their maximum volume 90–95 days after emergence.

Biological maturity occurs when the fruits acquire a rich burgundy hue.

Quadro Red

Peppers are mid-early varieties, reaching maturity 110-120 days after the first shoots emerge. The seeds are not grown in the ground, but rather propagated from seedlings. The plant itself is compact, reaching a maximum height of 65 cm, and produces 10-15 fruits during the growing season. However, due to the relatively thick stems and light weight (250-350 g), the plant does not require special support.

Specifications:

• the fruits have 4 nests with seeds;
• when reaching technical maturity they have a dark, blue-green hue;
• when biological maturity occurs, the pods turn scarlet;
• fully ripe fruits have a well-defined glossy skin;
• The yield from one plant reaches 2.5 kg.

Due to its compact size, up to seven plants can be grown per square meter. This makes this variety a high-yielding variety, with a single plot yielding 12–17 kg of vegetables.

Gemini

This mid-early variety reaches its peak fruit weight 120-130 days after germination. The bush is compact, with a maximum height of 80 cm. Fruit weight varies greatly depending on the environment and cultivation method. In open ground, pods weighing 90 g are considered normal, while in greenhouses, the maximum weight is 210 g.

Specifications:

1. The pepper has a cylindrical shape and, when it reaches biological maturity, acquires a bright yellow hue.
2. From one square meter they harvest 15-25 kg of fruit, although the weight of a single pod is quite modest.

Peto the Miracle

A mid-early variety, it reaches technical maturity 110-120 days after sprouting. The bush is a determinate, standard plant, and therefore does not exceed 80 cm in height.

Specifications:

• the fruits have the shape of an elongated prism;
• the weight reaches 400–500 g;
• each pod contains 3-4 nests;
• When they reach biological maturity, they acquire a crimson hue.

It's a high-yielding variety, yielding up to 18 kg of vegetables per square meter. Furthermore, the plant, grown outdoors, requires no special care.

Atlantic

This early-ripening variety reaches technical maturity in 70 days. It reaches a height of up to 1 m. It has a fairly strong main stem that can support the weight of the fruit without staking. The pods have 3-4 pods, and due to their thick walls, they weigh from 400 g. Due to the small size of the bush, 17-25 kg are harvested per square meter.

California Miracle

This pepper is a mid-late variety, reaching technical maturity in 120–130 days. However, it takes another 20 days for the fruit to fully turn red. The weight of a single fruit is modest compared to previous varieties, ranging from 80 to 160 g. However, due to the compact nature of the plant, which has a standard structure and reaches 70 cm in height, the yield is quite high.

Growing and caring for large peppers

Growing large peppers is unique because their fruits can reach impressive weights as they grow. Therefore, before you decide to plant this plant, you should prepare plenty of planks and ropes to support the branches. Otherwise, they will break under the massive pods.

It's also important to remember that this plant requires special care. It's important to ensure that side shoots are removed promptly from varieties prone to bushiness. Otherwise, the plant will expend a lot of energy on growing them, flowering them, and then maintaining the fruit set. This will increase the overall fruit production, but the fruit itself will be smaller and of poorer appearance. This can also affect how thick the skin is. The thinner the skin, the shorter the shelf life of the pods.

All pepper varieties require a lot of nutrients from the soil, so to ensure maximum fruit growth, they need to be fertilized at least twice. Superphosphate and mullein are most commonly used for this purpose. However, it's important to consider previous plantings in the same area and the mineral content of the soil. If the soil is poor, the number of fertilizing sessions should be increased to 5-6. However, it's important to allow at least 14 days, or preferably a month, between applications.

Reviews

Irina Borisovna, 61 years old. Mozdok:

"I once planted Atlantic, but unfortunately, something went wrong, and it didn't ripen until 92 days later. However, I have no complaints about the harvest; I harvested a large quantity of fruit. There were enough for both eating and canning."

Maya Karpovna, 56 years old. Orenburg region:

"We've been growing Burzhuy for two years now; the yield is good, and because it keeps well, the pods last until spring. I plan to plant this variety again next year."

Large peppers are ideal if your plot is rather small. However, these plants require special care and attention to achieve maximum results.