The best pepper varieties for central Russia

The future harvest depends on the vegetable variety chosen. It's common knowledge that the climate in the central part of our country is unstable, so it's recommended to choose varieties that are cold-resistant, easy to care for, don't experience any particular problems with harsh weather, and rarely suffer from diseases.

But there are those who have attracted the special attention of gardeners, so we will focus on them.

The best varieties of bell peppers for open ground

Below is a description of the optimal crops, according to gardeners, which have proven to have no serious problems during cultivation and produce a decent harvest.

1. An ultra-early Italian variety, 'Asti' is distinguished by its robust yet slender bush, which never exceeds 75 cm. These peppers are planted in late May for three weeks, with seeding beginning in late winter. The variety is highly resistant to disease, and the fruits ripen together, yielding approximately 9 kilograms per square meter. The peppers weigh up to a quarter of a kilogram and are smooth and uniform. Their cube-shaped, thick-walled fruits contain numerous seeds, and have an appealing flavor and aroma. 'Asti' comes in yellow and red varieties.
2. The mid-season "Arap" variety is noteworthy. It ripens four months or a little more after the seed first sprouts. The bush is medium-sized—approximately 70-80 cm—and is resistant to variable weather conditions, as well as viral and fungal diseases. When growing in the first month of spring, it's important to ensure proper watering and fertilizing. The fruits themselves are no more than 100 grams, reddish-purple in color, and cone-shaped. The peppers have thin, strong skin and tender, sweet flesh. The variety yields 7 kilograms per square meter, but care must be meticulous and diligent.
3. In protected soil, 'Antiquary' is considered a good yielding variety. It is early and bears fruit for a long time. 'Antiquary' is known for its medium foliage and a height of up to 1.5 meters. The fruits are sweet and juicy, prismatic, weighing up to 270 grams, and have a glossy red hue. The walls are thick (8 mm), and resistant to tobacco mosaic disease. It is important to train the bush, which requires support, with 2-3 stems.
4. The medium-sized "Annushka" variety has a very compact appearance. It's an early variety, with the first fruits harvested just over three months after germination. The fruits, up to 170 grams in weight, are prismatic and red in color. It has excellent disease resistance and yields up to 10 kg.
5. The early-ripening "Boyarin" variety was bred specifically for temperate climates. It can be grown both outdoors and in greenhouses. It is resistant to temperature fluctuations and fusarium. It is a medium-sized, neat-looking plant, never exceeding 75 cm in height. The red, cone-shaped peppers weigh approximately 160 grams. They have very sweet flesh and thick walls, and a square meter yields approximately 6 kilograms of fruit during the summer.
6. 'Vesuvius' is a good early variety, with a four-month period between germination and fruit ripening. The bush is vigorous, tolerant of temperature and soil moisture fluctuations, and is rarely susceptible to disease. The fruits themselves weigh up to 160 grams, with thick walls, shiny skin, juicy flesh, and a rich aroma. Like 'Boyarin,' this variety yields up to 6 kilograms per square meter.
7. 'Dobryak' is an ultra-early variety with a prolonged fruiting period. The harvest begins in just three months or less after the sprouts emerge. This vegetable doesn't grow more than a meter tall, is quite vigorous, yet compact. It tolerates temperature fluctuations well and has excellent resistance to viruses and fungi. The fruits are spherical, thick-walled, slightly compressed, weighing up to 110 grams. The flesh is juicy and not bitter. The yield per square meter ranges from 7 to 14 kg.
8. Another favorite for open ground is 'Emelya.' This early variety has a compact bush, no more than a meter tall. It has excellent resistance to adverse weather conditions. The peppers are cylindrical, orange, with shiny, firm skin and juicy flesh. The average yield is 9 kilograms.

Greenhouse peppers of central Russia

Each season, Russian and international pepper breeders delight gardeners with new greenhouse pepper varieties. Among them are many hybrids distinguished by early germination, resistance to harsh weather, and abundant fruit yield.

Experts recommend using the varieties listed below for your greenhouse:

1. The "Blondie" hybrid is a mid-season variety, with a growing season of approximately 110 days and a height of 90 cm. The fruits are prismatic in shape and yellow when ripe. Each pepper weighs approximately 140 grams, with a wall thickness of up to 7 mm. A distinctive feature of this hybrid is its resistance to acidic soil, drought, high temperatures, and humidity. This juicy, firm pepper yields up to 8 kilograms per plant.
2. The "Goodwin" hybrid is highly regarded. It is noted for its tall stature, early maturity, and high yield. In a greenhouse, the bush sometimes reaches a height of over two meters, requiring staking and support. This moisture-loving variety requires ample and regular watering. "Goodwin" has a growing season of just over 110 days. The peppers are red or dark green, prismatic in shape, weighing 220-250 grams each. The walls are thick, about 10 mm. With proper care, a single plant will yield about a dozen juicy peppers.
3. The low-growing 'Cardinal' also ripens early: harvesting begins 90 days after initial germination. Despite its height—no more than 60 cm—up to a dozen fruits can be harvested per square meter. The fruits have a smooth surface and a cubic shape. The skin is light purple, smooth, and glossy. On average, this vegetable weighs a quarter of a kilogram. This pepper requires regular mineral and organic fertilization and has good resistance to fungal and rot problems.
4. Another early-ripening hybrid is "Latino." This variety has an attractive appearance and excellent flavor. The fruits are a beautiful red color, perfectly cube-shaped, weighing approximately 220 grams, with a wall thickness of 1 cm. This hybrid is popular for its strong stems and robust root system. It withstands temperature fluctuations and infections well. When harvested, you'll get up to 10 kilograms of juicy peppers.

On the rules for planting and growing peppers in Central Russia

In the region described, peppers can only be grown from seedlings. They are planted permanently when they are less than 70 days old, with a two-week period between germination and sowing. Therefore, if you plan to plant peppers in early June, you should sow them in the first half of March.

With peppers, there's always a risk of seeds becoming stale and failing to germinate. To do this:

• treat seeds with nutrients;
• disinfect;
• wet;
• harden;
• bubble.

Of these methods, only a couple that are close to you are used, otherwise the desired result can be spoiled.

For seedlings, it's a good idea to prepare a nutrient mixture of peat, humus, turf, and river sand. It should contain about half organic matter. It's recommended to steam the mixture or treat it with hot water and potassium permanganate. Fertilizing is recommended after disinfecting the substrate.

Seeding occurs at a depth of one centimeter. The containers are placed in a warm location until seedlings emerge, then moved to a cool, light location to prevent the seedlings from stretching. After a seven-day break, the seedlings are returned to their original location.

When two strong leaves appear, the seedlings are subject to picking.

A solution of complex fertilizers is good for feeding crops; it contains micronutrients rather than organic matter to prevent the development of the above-ground part of the vegetable. The water and solution must be warm, at least 30 degrees Celsius.

Seedlings appear in greenhouses in mid-May. They are watered generously and placed in the shade for two days. Remember to reduce humidity and temperatures with regular ventilation to ensure the best fruit set.

The plants are then fed with complex fertilizers every 14 or 21 days and watered regularly with warm water. Three or four times during the summer, the soil is loosened and hilled, or a soil mixture is added to the roots.

Peppers are harvested as they arrive. Regular harvesting ensures better fruit set and ripening of the remaining crop.

Reviews of the best peppers in the central zone

Among such a wide variety of varieties for both indoor and outdoor cultivation, gardeners find those that suit their particular greenhouse or soil.

Julia, 45 years old

I'm a big fan of peppers in the garden. Of all the varieties I've used, I'd highlight 'Arapa,' 'Dobryaka,' and 'Latino.' The latter thrives in a greenhouse. Not all of the ones recommended by experts have worked for me; I stick to the tried and true, but I'm not averse to trying something new.

Dmitry and Tatiana, 38 years old

You really do take great care in selecting the pepper varieties for our center. We love experimenting, even trying something exotic for our region. I'd like to thank the breeders for their help. Among the outdoor peppers, we especially like "Boyarin." It's truly delicious, disease-free, and yields a bountiful harvest, despite minimal care and visits only on weekends.

So, for the central part of our country, we recommend varieties that won't tolerate the region's unstable weather and will yield a good harvest. With the options described above, this will be much easier. Good luck in your garden!