The best varieties of hot peppers for open ground and home cultivation

Suitable chili varieties for growing on a windowsill

Before you set up a small garden at home, choose the right variety of Chile. The choice is huge, but not every vegetable will grow at home and will suit the taste of the gardener. The most suitable options:

• Indian summer . This variety of pepper ripens in 3 months, sprouts white and purple flowers, has a tart feel and a burning taste.
• Confetti . The fruits ripen all year round, the length of the pods is up to 7 cm. The inflorescences are green, scarlet or purple, depending on the degree of maturity.
• Aladdin . This variety is equally suitable for greenhouses and open soil; it is considered early ripening and unpretentious in care. Green fruits become bright red or purple when ripe. The bush bears fruit all year round.
• Bell . The fruits ripen in 5 months. The main disadvantages of the variety are uneven distribution of pungency and small yield.
• Firework . This is a compact windowsill shrub with red and orange fruits throughout the crown.
• Tabasco . The variety is highly valued for its rapid growth and productivity; its pulp has burning properties and a tart taste.
• Queen of Spades . This mid-season bush bears fruit all year round. According to the degree of ripening, it turns from green to orange and red.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Indian Summer hot pepper grows in the form of a neat bush. The stems grow within 30–40 cm, densely hung with colorful peppers like lights. The foliage is strong.

In terms of ripening time, the vegetable is early - the harvest begins 100–107 days after germination.

Indian summer hot pepper is grown at home (on windows, balconies), in open soil. The variety is adapted to heat and cold snaps and is not afraid of sudden temperature fluctuations. If standard agricultural practices are followed, it will produce abundantly beautiful fruits.

Indian Summer hot peppers are grown on the windowsill in 3-4 liter pots, flower pots, flowerpots, and small buckets.

What you should know about bush fruits, their description:

• shape - spherical;
• weight - 15–20 g;
• color - varnish-red;
• the skin is strong;
• the wall is not thick, about 2–4 mm.

Rules for planting Chili on the windowsill

This vegetable can be grown from young seedlings or seeds. In the second case, there is a greater chance of getting a rich harvest, the taste that was originally planned. It is important to choose the right soil and container for planting Chili, follow the rules of care, and provide the plant with a suitable microclimate.

Landing dates

You can sow pepper seeds all year round. Experienced gardeners claim that the most fruitful is spring sowing (early or mid-March). The harvest is rich, and the pepper is uniformly hot and fiery. The planting time is determined individually, taking into account the characteristics of a particular variety.

The following varieties are distinguished:

• Early ripening varieties are planted in mid-February and bear fruit in late May - June. Early varieties include Ogonyok, Medusa, Aladdin, Tabasco.
• Mid-season ones are planted in early to mid-March. These include the Holly Fish and the Queen of Spades.
• Late varieties are sown in the second half of March. This is Confetti, Bell, Salute, Variegated Troll.

Traditionally, Ogonyok, Tabasco and Bell are grown on the windowsill. Other varieties are less in demand at home.

Selecting a location

The vegetable bears fruit well in greenhouse conditions and in open ground. Under favorable conditions, the harvest is rich, the pods are one to one, attractive in appearance. Valuable recommendations:

1. Maintain the optimal temperature in winter – 18 degrees, in summer – 20-25 degrees.
2. Grow the shrub in the light, but avoid exposure to ultraviolet radiation, otherwise its yield will decrease.
3. Avoid drafts; when ventilating, temporarily move the pot to a quiet, windless place.

Preparing the container and soil

An excellent option for planting Chile is cells made of pressed peat. A separate container is provided for each seedling, since the plant needs space. As an alternative, boxes made of wood, plastic containers, disposable tableware, and medium-sized flower pots are used.

A prerequisite is the presence at the bottom of the container of drainage with a layer of 3-4 cm. Alternatively, river sand, expanded clay, charcoal or crushed slate are selected. The root system must breathe, and stagnation of moisture contributes to its further rotting.

The yield depends on the quality of the soil. To prepare a nutrient mixture, mix 2 parts each of peat, compost, turf soil, 1 part each of vermiculite and sand. Stir, place on top of the drainage, do not compact.

The soil must be disinfected before planting. How to do this - read here.

Selection, preparatory activities and planting of seeds

Before purchasing, make sure the seeds are suitable for home growing. Industrial varieties are more often used for open areas and greenhouses. They definitely don’t bear fruit on the windowsill.

Buy seeds from well-known manufacturers, do not skimp on your purchase. After opening the package, carefully examine each grain. They should be large, light, without suspicious spots, plaque, or deformation. Do not use doubtful seeds for sowing; they will still not give a good harvest.

Disinfect seeds before planting. To do this, dip them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. Remove and dry naturally. To increase the viability of each grain and the chances of germination, place it in gauze pre-moistened with water until young shoots appear.

When healthy seedlings grow from the seeds to 10-15 cm in height, transplant each into a separate pot. Follow these landing rules:

1. Place drainage at the bottom with a layer of 3 cm.
2. Place a small amount of soil on top.
3. Make holes 5-7 cm deep.
4. Place the plant with its roots in the ground in the center.
5. Fill in and secure the stem.
6. Water thoroughly with water at room temperature.
7. Cover the container with cling film until the first shoots appear.
8. The next watering is after 7 days, when the roots have expanded.

If the seedlings are over-watered in the first week, the root system begins to rot and the growth of the chili pepper stops. Severe drought is also harmful - it slows down growth and reduces yields.

Picking

When the seedlings get stronger and a young plant with 2-3 leaves is formed, transplant it into a separate pot. This process is called picking. Immediately after transplantation, the plant temporarily slows down its growth. Then why is this necessary? Picking strengthens and branches the root system, which in the future has a positive effect on productivity.

Valuable recommendations before and after picking:

• water the seedlings with water to plant the plants with their root system in a coma of earth;
• plant the seedlings with their roots in the central part of the permanent pot;
• after transplanting, water generously and do not touch for a week;
• Make sure that after picking the soil above the root system does not dry out.

Growing peppers by cuttings

To preserve all the properties of the chili pepper variety chosen for planting, replace sowing seeds with cuttings. Sequencing:

1. Cut cuttings up to 10 cm from young shoots without fruit.
2. Before planting, soak the branches for a day in a zircon solution (3 drops per 0.5 cup of water).
3. Plant in the ground to a hole depth of 5-7 cm.
4. Cover with soil and compact lightly.
5. Water the plant generously.
6. Replant as you grow (each time choose containers larger than the previous ones).

Landing

To get seedlings on time, sowing begins at the end of February. Planting lasts throughout March. The seeds are first disinfected and then soaked in a stimulant solution for 2–3 hours. Keep for a couple of days in moistened gauze.

The optimal depth of the soil is up to 2 cm, sprinkle earth on top and lightly compact it.

Young peppers are watered through a spray bottle, trying not to get on the leaves. In the phase of 2 true leaves, seedlings are picked and planted in separate containers. For feeding, use urea, nitroammofoska, Malyshok or Agricola.

55–65-day-old seedlings are planted on the site or placed in containers.

Maintenance and care

Chili peppers do not like sudden changes in temperature and drafts; they ripen faster under conditions of moderate humidity, light and heat. Mandatory conditions for its content:

• temperature during the day – 23-25 ​​degrees, at night – at least 18 degrees;
• daylight hours - from 15 to 18 hours;
• the soil is moist, loose, but without excess moisture.

To make caring for peppers easy, use only healthy seeds or strong seedlings. Otherwise, even if you follow the planting rules, you can’t count on a rich harvest.

Temperature and lighting

The vegetable is best grown in spring and summer, since the days last longer and the plant needs light. Without light, the ovary is not accepted; the plant is small and rarely bears fruit. If you plant peppers in autumn or winter, create additional lighting - 1 hour in the morning and evening using special lamps (fluorescent, infrared or LED).

The plant is heat-loving, so maintain the indoor temperature at 22-25 degrees. You can harden seedlings at the stage of formation of 6 leaves - take the seedlings out to the balcony for 15-20 minutes, gradually increase this time interval. In this case, the chili pepper tolerates seasonal cooling better.

Watering and humidity

Water the soil as the top layer dries. Don't overdo it, or the roots will rot. After watering, allow time for excess liquid to drain into the tray, then remove it immediately.

When air humidity is low, the plant suffers. To maintain its vital activity and fertility, regularly spray the leaves with a spray bottle. Use water at room temperature. In summer, water the bushes daily, in winter 3-4 times a week.

The best mid- and late-ripening varieties

Vizier

Hot pepper Vizier
Late ripening. Grows in closed ground. The fruits are red, weighing up to 20 g. The taste is medium spicy. Productivity is good. Used for making paprika, salt, and preserves.

Astrakhan

Hot pepper variety Astrakhan
Mid-season ripening. The yield is high and is cultivated in open ground under different climatic conditions. The fruits are small and red. The taste is pungent. The pungency is determined by the capsaicin content. It is successfully used for cooking and medicinal purposes. Pepper tincture will relieve radiculitis. Fresh pulp will cure boils. Hot pepper stimulates the appetite, helps with pain and fever.

Ram's horn

Hot pepper Lamb's horn
Mid-season. It is unpretentious to grow, but does not tolerate stagnant water. With proper care it produces a high yield. The pods are elongated, twisted, like a ram's horn. The taste is not very pungent if watered well. If there is little watering, the weather is hot, the pepper will grow hotter. Suitable for trade, goes for export.

Cayenne

Hot pepper variety Cayenne
A relatively new species. It grows in greenhouses and indoors (the seeds are first planted as seedlings). Productivity is high. The fruits are thin, of medium length. The bushes are tall, reaching one and a half meters. It definitely needs to be tied up. The taste is relatively hot. It is used for cooking, canning, and processing into powder.

Seedlings are planted in open ground.

Tabasco

Hot pepper Tabasco
Bush hot pepper. Grows on bushes in bunches located upwards. The fruits are orange-red and small. The pulp is juicy, fleshy, spicy. Productivity is high, disease resistant. The famous Tabasco sauce is produced from this variety.

Reproduction

Chili peppers of any variety reproduce in 2 ways:

• By cuttings . To do this, young shoots are cut off and kept in water until the root system is formed. Then they are planted separately, like a young plant.
• Seeds . They are bought in gardening stores, after processing they are buried in the ground and watered. All that remains is to wait for the first shoots. The seedlings are transferred to a new, larger pot.

It is recommended to replant the chili pepper annually in a large container, otherwise the bush will stop bearing fruit. Not immediately, but harvest volumes are noticeably decreasing with each season.

Harvesting

Productivity depends on the variety; for example, small-fruited pepper produces 100 pods per season. The plant does not bear fruit immediately. The first harvest can be harvested only after 2-3 years (with proper and regular care). On average, fruiting lasts for 5 years. Later, the number of pods per season decreases significantly.

There are several periods of ripeness, which differ in the color of the Chili pods - at first it is green, but then turns red. In a cold place, the fruits are stored for several months without losing their beneficial properties. If desired, the pods can be frozen, pickled, or consumed fresh.

Rating of the best varieties of hot peppers

Nomination	place	Variety	rating
Hot peppers for growing indoors	1	Indian summer	5.0
2	Explosion Amber	4.9
3	Filius blue	4.7
Hot pepper for open ground	1	Dragon tongue	5.0
2	Astrakhansky 147	4.9
3	Hungarian yellow	4.8
4	Homer F1	4.7
Early ripening hot peppers	1	Impala F1	5.0
2	Tula F1	4.9
3	Witty	4.8
Bitter peppers with medium and late ripening	1	Ram's horn	5.0
2	Tabasco	4.9
3	Vizier	4.8
4	Ogonyok	4.7

Diseases and pests of chili pepper

Pepper has a strong immune system. Due to the specific aroma, the risk of interference from harmful insects is also minimal. And yet, under certain conditions, the plant can get sick and die. Among the provoking factors:

• Black leg . The reason is excessive watering of the bush. Saving peppers is problematic, so it is better to immediately determine the time and frequency of watering.
• Spider mite . The reason is the activity of the parasite in dry air. Due to lack of oxygen, the leaves turn yellow, dry out and fall off. Treatment is effective if fungicidal drugs are used.
• Midges . The reason is that insects appear from neighboring crops. The plant must be thoroughly treated with soapy water.
• Plant aphids. The reason is a violation of the care regimen. Parasites feed on young shoots and can cause the death of the entire bush.

Black leg of pepper

Spider mite on pepper

Black midge is the enemy of many plants, and pepper is no exception.

Aphids on a pepper leaf

To minimize the risk of disease, carry out preventive spraying of bushes with low concentration fungicidal preparations.

Secrets for growing chili peppers

For beginning gardeners, the plant does not begin to bear fruit even after 3 years. To avoid mistakes, follow the recommendations of professionals:

• In winter, place the pepper on the windowsill on the south side, and if there is not enough light, use artificial lighting.
• When flowers appear, keep chili pepper bushes at a distance. For better ovaries, shake the crowns regularly.
• To ensure seedlings germinate quickly, place them on a well-lit surface and increase daylight hours.
• To speed up fruiting, control watering. The soil should not be dry, but excess moisture is also harmful.

Advantages and disadvantages of home growing

Before you decide to have your own vegetable garden on the windowsill, study the advantages and disadvantages of such an idea. Start with the positives:

• good harvest without nitrates;
• excellent taste of homemade pepper;
• fruiting for 5 years;
• ease of care;
• strong plant immunity;
• aesthetic appearance of the bush;
• prevention of viruses, influenza, ARVI.

There are some disadvantages that it is also better not to forget about before buying chili pepper:

• small fruits;
• fruiting once a year;
• the need for space on the windowsill;
• additional lighting;
• not always the desired taste.

Reviews

Victor, psychologist, 45 years old, Tyumen. I have had Ogonyok growing on my windowsill for many years. It bears fruit only at the end of summer, but the dried pods then last for the whole year. The plant itself is unpretentious, with the exception of watering. As soon as the ground under the bush dries out a little, the leaves immediately begin to turn yellow. It tastes like hot pepper, but you still can’t buy it in the store.

Marina, saleswoman, 38 years old, Samara. My husband gave me Salyut seedlings for my birthday. I have long dreamed of having a vegetable garden on my own windowsill. There were no problems with cultivation; the first fruits appeared at the end of the summer of the same year. The pepper is small, but hot, you can’t eat too much of it. But the product is natural.

Oleg, teacher, 47 years old, Astrakhan. I have had chili peppers growing on my windowsill for beauty for several years now. The pods are one to one, small, like toy ones. But I noticed that flies and other insects do not fly into the apartment. Apparently, the smell of pepper really scares them away. I rarely add it to food, it’s too spicy.

Mikhail, Chelyabinsk

We have 3 bushes growing on the windowsill at home. I don’t know the variety, a friend gave me seedlings. The pods grow up to 5-6 cm long, about the thickness of a little finger. I planted the seedlings around March last year, and are currently bearing fruit for the second round. It's the perfect accompaniment to borscht.

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Before growing chili peppers on the windowsill, decide on the variety, prepare a suitable container and soil, and after planting, do not violate the rules for caring for and maintaining the plant. In this case, a rich harvest will delight you every year.

Hot pepper for open ground

There are a great variety of hot pepper seeds for open ground. Every gardener and gardener can choose his favorite variety that is suitable for him. From all the variety offered to us on the seed market, we will select the three most popular varieties of hot peppers:

Hot pepper "Adjika"

“Adjika” is the most popular among varieties for open ground. According to the speed of ripening, this variety can be classified as mid-early. In height the size reaches 100, i.e. the plant is tall, and this must be taken into account when planting.

The fruits are large, cone-shaped, and bright in color. The taste is spicy.

Hot pepper variety “For the mother-in-law”

The second most popular variety, which is classified as early. Hot pepper “For Mother-in-Law” has proven itself to be high-yielding. The height is just under 50 centimeters. The color is red, the shape is cone-shaped. It has a pungent taste.

Hot pepper "Dragon's tongue"

Tall plant, height reaches 100 centimeters. It is not particularly demanding to care for. Ripe peppers are long in shape and bright red in color. Very sharp, burning. Has a pleasant smell. This type of pepper is used in the production of paprika.

In addition to classification by place of cultivation, bitter peppers are also classified by ripening period into:

• - early;
• - average;
• - late.

Also varieties of hot pepper for open ground are worthy of attention:

Hot pepper "Vizir"

“Vizir” is a very unusual variety of pepper, with even more unusual fruits, shaped like a turban. A bush of this type of pepper is spreading, up to 100 centimeters high.

The fruits are quite dense and acquire a poppy hue when fully ripe. Maximum weight no more than 30 grams. The taste is sharp. It is better to grow this variety in a greenhouse or greenhouse, in which case the harvest will be much larger.

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