Pepper is one of those few crops that are necessarily present in almost every garden plot in Russia. It is loved not only for its excellent taste and incredible usefulness, but also for its excellent adaptation to growing conditions and ease of care. Today we will introduce you to the Big Girl pepper variety. Below is a detailed description of the variety, features of its cultivation in a greenhouse, information about crop yield, etc. (photo materials attached).
What type of pepper is this?
An early ripening Big Girl grows in 100-105 days. Harvest in mid to late August. The variety is resistant to major crop diseases and can withstand hot and dry summers without consequences. The vegetable is planted by seedlings or seeds in open ground.
Characteristics and description of the variety
The bushes are semi-standard, reaching a height of 50-70 cm. There are many leaves, so the plant needs timely formation. From 8 to 10 large and juicy fruits grow on one bush.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The weight of the vegetable is from 120 to 200 g, in some cases reaching 300 g. The color is bright orange, the pulp is high in sugar. The wall thickness is 7-9 mm, so the peppers are perfectly stored. From 1 square meter, summer residents collect about 7 kg of beautiful and aromatic vegetables.
Interesting ! Big Girl peppers make an excellent base for stuffing. The peppers are peeled from the stem and seeds, stuffed with vegetables, meat, and herbs. The appetizer will decorate any holiday table and will be a tasty addition to the first and second courses.
Landing
The variety is grown through seedlings. Before sowing, seeds are soaked and treated with stimulants (Epin, Agat). Planted in a nutritious loose substrate. After 1–2 leaves appear, they are poured into 0.3–0.4 liter cups. Water at room temperature. Before and after picking, fertilizing is applied a week.
Fertilizers used:
- herbal infusion;
- nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium agents;
- complex preparations: Malyshok, Ideal, Agricola.
60–70-day-old bushes are planted in beds. Maintain a distance of 40 cm between holes. For 1 sq. m there are 5–6 plants.
Preparation for cultivation
Fertile, warm beds are allocated for growing peppers. In the fall, the soil is dug up and cleared of weeds and debris. With the arrival of spring, the procedure is repeated, then fertilized with peat or compost. If the soil has a high level of acidity, liming is carried out: the beds are sprinkled with a mixture of dry wood ash and lime.
Next, prepare the seeds. They are inspected for external defects and disinfected with a boric acid solution. After disinfection, the seeds are germinated: placed on a warm, damp cloth and stored in a warm place. Germination accelerates seed germination and strengthens their immunity.
Important ! Experienced gardeners prepare the soil for seedlings in advance. Use ready-made compounds or soil from the garden. It is recommended to disinfect the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate and clean it of debris, insects and their larvae.
Growing seedlings
Seedlings are prepared 2-3 weeks before planting on the site. To do this, purchase a container, for example peat tablets or plastic cassettes with trays. Pour soil into a clean container, make small grooves and place 3-4 seeds in each hole. The grooves are sprinkled with earth and watered generously with warm water.
Place the container in a warm sunny place and water it every 5-7 days. 2 weeks after planting, the seedlings are fertilized with ash or a solution of Bordeaux mixture. Fertilizing improves the plant's immunity and prevents the occurrence of diseases. The next fertilizer is applied after 10 days.
Important ! Pepper seedlings are sensitive to lack of light, so summer residents organize additional lighting using fluorescent lamps.
When growing peppers in small containers, after 3 weeks they pick and place the seedlings in larger containers. To do this, the sprouts are carefully removed from the container, leaving a lump of earth on the roots and placed in a new container in the ground so that the root system has enough space for healthy development. Also, digging into new soil can save you from fungi and bacteria living in the soil.
Harvesting seedlings from Big Girl pepper seeds
To grow Big Girl peppers, it is recommended to prepare seedlings in advance. To obtain healthier and stronger plants, it is recommended to soak pepper seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate or in aloe juice. Seeds for seedlings are usually planted in early March, in soil mixed with sawdust and wood ash, since it is important for peppers to be planted in loose soil. The seeds are immersed 1 cm, covered with soil and sprayed with water.
It is better to cover the container with already planted seeds with a film or plastic lid to maintain the required humidity (approximately 70%). The first shoots appear on days 12-15. Then it is necessary to pick so that each plant can develop its own strong root system.
"Big Girl" pepper seedlings are planted at about 70 days
Attention! Experienced gardeners, through trial and error, came to the consensus that early picking on the 15-20th day (when 2-3 leaves are already visible) is more easily tolerated by pepper seedlings and gives a greater chance for the subsequent successful development of the plant.
Pepper sprouts are transplanted into separate forms with a drainage hole. The picking is done very carefully so as not to damage the roots.
In order for the picking to be successful and for less disturbance to the plant, the seedlings are moved along with part of the soil into a separate form of already moistened soil. Upon completion of picking, the forms with seedlings are placed in a warm, bright place. The soil around the sprouts is moistened again; for this it is better to use a sprayer. To create the most comfortable conditions, additional artificial lighting will be required. 10 days after picking, the seedlings are fed with a solution of water with urea and superphosphate, which will have a beneficial effect on the formation of plants.
Big Girl peppers are easy to grow and easy to care for.
Further care
The beds are moistened every 7 days, the amount of water depends on weather conditions. In hot and humid summers, 1 liter is consumed per bush; in drought, from 1.5 to 2 liters. For convenience and water saving, a drip irrigation system is used. Once a week, instead of watering, use nettle infusion. The folk remedy protects against pests and stimulates the healthy development of plants. Water the beds in the morning or evening to avoid sunburn.
Caring for sweet peppers is impossible without organic and mineral fertilizers. From organic matter, compost, humus, wood ash, and liquid manure are used. Fertilizers improve the taste and quality of fruits and saturate the soil with nutrients. Superphosphate, ammophos, nitrophoska, and ammonium nitrate are used as mineral fertilizers. If there is a lack of useful elements, the plants dry out, the leaves curl and turn yellow.
Features of growing the variety and possible difficulties
Summer residents recommend forming peppers 3 weeks after planting. The procedure improves yield and has a positive effect on fruit size. It is enough to remove weak and growing shoots. To prevent the plant from breaking under the weight of heavy fruits, it is tied to a wooden peg installed near each bush.
Also, special attention is paid to the dosage of minerals. An excess of nitrogen leads to the wilting of the plant, an excess of potassium leads to the development of infections. You cannot add minerals and ash at the same time; this causes an increase in green mass, and the fruits remain small. Abundant watering and sprinkling the beds with wood ash will help solve the problem of overabundance.
Pepper varieties for open ground
Pepper variety "Orange"
Pepper variety "Orange" - this variety belongs to the mid-season varieties of peppers. The plant is not distinguished by its large bush size. Height - about 40-45 cm. Miniature bush. The fruits are orange or red-orange, small in size, rounded, elongated, smooth. Weight does not exceed 40 g.
This variety is distinguished by a special sweetness of taste and unsurpassed aroma. Used for preparing fresh salads and lecho.
“Orange” will take root well in open ground in a region with a warm climate; in the northern regions, this variety of pepper is best planted under film.
Pepper variety "California Miracle"
The “California Miracle” pepper variety is the most favorite variety of peppers for open ground among summer residents. "California Miracle" is a mid-season pepper variety. The plant is small in size, compact, the maximum height of the bush is 1 m. The bush is distinguished by its power and elastic branches. The plant does not need a garter. The fruits are large, red, cube-shaped, with a ribbed surface. The fruit is very fleshy, fruit weight is 120 -150 g.
The seeds of the “California miracle” will germinate well both in open ground and in a greenhouse. This pepper variety is resistant to Verticillium wilt. “California Miracle” is distinguished by its high yield, easy care, excellent taste and attractive appearance. This variety is used in salads and for stuffing.
Pepper variety “Gift of Moldova”
The pepper variety “Gift of Moldova” is another variety of pepper that is loved by many. This variety belongs to the mid-season varieties of peppers. The plant is semi-spreading, height is about 40 cm. The fruits are cone-shaped, dark red in color. The fruits are particularly fleshy. Fruit weight is about 80 g.
“Gift of Moldova” is grown both in open ground and under film covering. “Gift of Moldova” is resistant to fading and unpretentious. The variety is characterized by high yield and excellent adaptability to different climatic conditions. “Gift of Moldova” is perfect for canning.
Pepper variety "Swallow"
Pepper variety "Swallow" is a mid-season variety of pepper. Plant height is about 50 cm, the plant is semi-spreading. The fruits are light green in color, cone-shaped, oval in shape, the skin is dense and smooth. The average fruit weight is 80 g.
“Swallow” is intended for cultivation in open ground and under film. The variety is resistant to pepper diseases, is characterized by high productivity, transportability, and has high resistance to weather conditions. "Swallow" can even tolerate autumn frosts. Most often used for preservation.
Pepper variety "Siberian Prince"
The pepper variety “Siberian Prince” is an early-ripening variety of peppers. The plant is semi-spreading, low. Pepper fruits are rich red in color, large and fleshy. The shape of the fruit is cone-shaped, the skin is smooth and glossy. Weight – about 100 g.
“Siberian Prince” is intended for cultivation both in open ground and under temporary shelter. The peculiarity of the “Siberian Prince” is that if the side shoots are not cut off, the fruits will turn out to be small. Early harvesting will be facilitated by growing seedlings without picking. This variety is suitable for short-term storage.
“Siberian Prince” has an excellent taste and aroma. This variety is used both fresh and for preservation.
We looked at the most popular varieties of pepper for open ground, but there are also a huge number of varieties of pepper for open ground that have not yet become so popular, such as: Atlant, Apricot Favorite, Topolin, Belozerka, Big Daddy, Bugai, Yenisei, Korol North, Fat Baron, Fatty, Tenderness, Burning Nose, Claudio, Kolobok, Shanghai, Shakira, Yantar and many other varieties of pepper for open ground.
Tatyana Kuzmenko, member of the editorial board of the online publication “AtmAgro. Agroindustrial Bulletin"
Typical diseases and pests
Pepper yields are affected by whiteflies and aphids. The flying little bugs are difficult to see with the naked eye, so it is recommended to regularly lift the leaves and inspect their back side. Pests gather in flocks and suck the juice from the plant, which is necessary for healthy development. As preventive measures, the rules of disinfection and crop rotation are observed. For treatment, spraying with ash or whey solution is used.
Another well-known pest is the Colorado potato beetle . Both adults and larvae are dangerous. Insects live in the ground, and with the arrival of summer they appear on the bushes. The striped pest can destroy up to 100% of the crop. They get rid of the beetle using professional preparations “Tornado” or “Fundazol”.
Late blight is a typical disease for pepper. The fungus develops in hot and humid summer conditions. It appears as brown spots on the leaves and drying out. For prevention purposes, ash or iodine solution is used; for treatment, a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture is chosen.
In addition to late blight, black bacterial spot is found on the beds. Dark spots appear on the pepper and stem, which become larger over time. If infected, plants are removed from the garden bed and burned. For preventive purposes, spraying with infusion on burdock leaves is used.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The Big Girl variety has stable yields. The vegetable is successfully planted both in open ground and in a greenhouse. The fruits are large, with a dense peel. The harvest is stored for up to 3-5 months and does not lose its taste and beneficial properties.
It is universal in use; peppers are used to prepare preparations for the winter, stuffed, and used for preparing appetizers, vegetable salads, and side dishes. The commercial quality of the Big Girl variety is excellent; it attracts with its bright color and pronounced aroma.
Among the disadvantages, the need to form a bush is noted. If this is not done in time, then many unnecessary shoots appear, and the fruits do not have enough nutrition for healthy development.
How to properly grow a variety and care for it?
To get a high-quality harvest, you need to go through several stages:
Prepare a greenhouse
When should seedlings be planted? Each region has its own deadlines. In the south of the country, mid-February is suitable for this purpose, and in the northern and central latitudes - early March. It is necessary to take into account climatic conditions and plant only when frosts have completely stopped. However, the seedlings will still need to be hardened off and covered with a special film at night. The first week after being placed in open soil, it is especially vulnerable.
Big Boy seeds germinate at a temperature of 20-25 degrees. It shouldn't go down. At zero degrees the plant dies, and at plus 13 its growth temporarily stops.
To get a good harvest, you need to use high-quality seeds. The most productive varieties are possible. Large selection of varieties for every taste.
Please note: sweet pepper seeds should not be stored in the cold. They may not germinate, or the culture will develop very slowly
Normal storage conditions: temperature from 18 to 20 degrees.
So, to obtain seedlings of the required quality, you need to follow a number of rules:
- maintain the required level of heat;
- plant in peat pots or boxes;
- plant in pairs (for cross-pollination);
- add various fertilizers to the boxes: sand or sawdust, garden soil, compost;
- replant plants only with residual soil on the roots, so as not to injure them;
- water frequently;
- do not deepen the crop into the ground more than 2 cm;
- protect from drafts and darkness
Before placing seedlings in open ground, they must be hardened off. This is not done only in the south, where it is already quite warm at the time of transplantation. The sprouts are exposed to air for a week, gradually increasing the “walk” time. They should not be affected by wind or scorching sun, so that development does not stop or leaves are burned.
Plant seedlings
Big Boy is a universal variety, suitable for growing both in a greenhouse and outdoors. The first option is common in regions with harsh climates, where it gives excellent performance. Gardeners in the middle zone use a special lunar calendar released annually. To ensure that the crop is not exposed to frost when placed in open ground, it is supposed to be kept for 70-80 days after planting in pots.
A remedy that makes plants grow by leaps and bounds! Just water your plants with this Read more…
For a good “Big Boy” harvest, seedlings must be properly cared for:
- plant on both sides (on trellises);
- loosen and mulch the soil to maintain normal moisture;
- plant 4 plants per 1 sq. m to avoid their shading;
- fertilize with mineral complexes without high nitrogen content;
- pest control;
- pluck off excess leaves after fruit formation so that they do not interfere with flowering
Important!
Experts do not recommend planting sweet peppers next to bitter ones. The fact is that insects exchange pollen, and the fruits may acquire a bitterness that is unusual for them.
A variety with a similar name - Big Boy
Variety Big Boy.
The main difference between the Big Girl and Big Boy varieties is the color of the fruit and a more elongated shape . If the Big Girl has an attractive orange color, then the second peppers are painted in a deep red color.
The fruits of the Big Boy variety are slightly larger, the average weight of the vegetable varies from 150 to 300 g. The taste is sweet, without bitterness. The thickness of the peel is about 8 mm. Like Big Girl, red vegetables are actively used in cooking. They make tasty and healthy fermented dishes, as well as lecho and salads.
Important ! The cultivation technology of the varieties is similar. In the northern regions they use the seedling method, in the southern regions they plant seeds in open ground. Care consists of timely watering and fertilizers. I harvest in August, when the fruits become firm.
Big Boy
Scientists can joke after all! Therefore, they “gave birth” to the family with a dark burgundy son. Among other varieties of red pepper, the boy turned out to be large - each fruit is up to 300 grams, thick-walled - 8 mm.
- The baby is precocious (105 days before maturity).
- The pepper bush is of medium height and strong.
- Resistant to diseases, not fussy to care for. It is preferable to form two tables.
Boy peppers are elastic, juicy, not bitter, shaped like barrels. Perfectly stored and transported.
Reviews from gardeners
To find out what gardeners think about the Big Girl variety, let’s study several comments from popular gardening forums.
Natalya, Sochi: “I have been growing Big Girl bell peppers for two seasons in a row. I like the juicy and sweet pulp, it is tasty and goes well with other vegetables. The walls of the vegetable are dense, I store the harvest in the basement until winter.”
Pavel, Moscow: “I planted Big Girl in a greenhouse. The vegetables started growing quickly, but the fruiting period came late. I took care of it as usual, watered it and fertilized it with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. From 3 sq. m collected only 7 kg of pepper.”
Olga, Volgograd: “Big Girl orange pepper is my favorite. It is unpretentious in care, and the harvest is always rich. A month after planting, I form a bush and water it with organic matter 2-3 times during the season. I recommend it to everyone."
Features of growing Big Girl peppers and proper care
Ready pepper seedlings are planted for 70-80 days either in the ground in the open air or in a greenhouse.
Features you should know to grow healthy and strong Big Girl plants:
- The soil should be loose and breathable, and the permanent location should be sunny.
- The steady air temperature is 20-25˚С (late May - early June).
- Planting is carried out at the rate of 3-4 plants per 1 sq.m., so that they do not shade each other.
- Plants are transplanted from forms into the ground using the transshipment method, not buried, strengthened with support and tied up.
- Protect the plant from diseases, aphids and mites and spray them prophylactically with a soap solution or, if necessary, with special means.
From 1 sq.m. you can collect up to 8 kg of peppers
Reviews from gardeners and summer residents indicate that the Big Girl pepper is unpretentious in care. This process is not labor-intensive, but nevertheless plays a significant role in creating comfortable conditions for the growth of pepper. Therefore, it is important to follow the following rules:
- It is better to water with warm water, often, but little by little. Drip irrigation is favorable;
- fertilize plants after planting in the ground, during the growing season and during the period of growth and ripening of fruits;
- Perform shallow loosening of the soil once every 2 weeks and clearing it of weeds.
“Big Girl” sweet peppers are widely used in various vegetable salads, for stuffing, baked and stewed, and of course, in all variations of canned preparations. Such a variety of pepper preparations will not leave anyone indifferent. Once you try this variety of peppers, you will definitely want to grow it in your garden beds year after year!
