Gemini pepper f1: reviews of the hybrid from Holland, characteristics and description of the sweet variety, features of its cultivation

Pepper is a vegetable that can pleasantly surprise you with its taste and beneficial properties. A striking representative of the new generation of selection is the Gemini f1 sweet pepper. It is not for nothing that Holland is considered a leader in the production of plant hybrids. The crops bred by the breeders of this country have always attracted gardeners. Dutch hybrids are particularly stress-resistant, have excellent taste and high yield. Gemini pepper has all these qualities. Therefore, many gardeners choose it to grow on their site.

What kind of pepper is this

The English translation of Gemini is "Gemini" . The plant probably got its name because of the high similarity in appearance of the fruits - all the peppers are the same, like twin brothers.

The plant produces seeds. The agricultural company holds leading positions in the markets of many countries. Its products are chosen not only for private use, but also for cultivation on farms.

Hybrid f1

Gemini is a hybrid crop, that is, obtained by crossing parental varieties. Packaging with planting material always has the letter f1. In order to obtain the declared characteristics of a hybrid when growing (yield, fruit size, taste), it is necessary to carefully follow the rules of agricultural technology.

At the end of the growing season, seeds from the fruit are not suitable for further cultivation, since they do not retain their genetics. Planting material will have to be purchased again, although the cost of hybrid seeds is quite high.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Gemini pepper bush f1 is medium-sized, reaching a maximum height of 50 cm. The leaves are dark green. A large number of leaves are formed on the bush, which protect the fruits of the plant from exposure to the sun. It has a powerful stem that can withstand the load of heavy fruits.

The first fruits begin to bear 3 months after planting the seedlings. An important feature is its resistance to all common diseases. From one plant you can collect about a dozen large fruits.

Distinctive features

Gemini f1 is recognizable due to the rich yellow color of the fruits, which have almost the same size and shape. Pepper does not have any critical defects; the manufacturer claims high seed germination and a pleasant taste of the fruit.

Fruit characteristics, yield

The fruits are bright yellow and cubic in shape. They reach a weight of 200 g if the cultivation site is open ground, and 300 g when cultivated on protected soils. The walls of the fruit do not exceed 8 mm, the stalk is freely separated.

Peppers have a great taste with a slight bitterness. Even if the harvest was harvested before maturity and the fruits ripened in storage, they do not lose their excellent taste. Peppers can be used both for preservation and fresh.

Fruit characteristics

The shape is cuboid, elongated, tapering towards the end.
The fruits are large, each weighing about 250 g; in a greenhouse, vegetables can reach 350 g.
The walls are thick 7-8 mm.
The vegetables reach about 18 cm in length.
There are 4 seed chambers inside.
At the stage of technical ripeness they are colored dark green, at the biological stage they become bright yellow. In this case, coloring occurs slowly and unevenly. Most often, the fruits have a greenish-yellow tint.
The taste is excellent.
The pulp is tender, sweet, with a slight bitterness.
The skin is thin.
Simultaneous ripening, the fruits are easily separated from the stalk.
They look beautiful.
Excellent keeping quality.

Preparation for cultivation

The soil used for seedlings must be light, contain the required amount of nutrients and have drainage properties. For preparation use sand (1 part), humus (2 parts) and earth (1 part). All ingredients are mixed.

Any shallow box or box that can hold soil and moisture is suitable as a container for seedlings. There is no need to treat the seeds in any additional way, since they are already prepared by the manufacturer for planting. Planting material is germinated at a temperature of 22 to 27 °C, soaked in a damp cloth or on a cotton pad.

Productivity

The variety belongs to a crop with sufficient yield. With correctly carried out agrotechnical procedures, the optimal weight of one unit will depend only on the method of cultivation:

in open ground – 88 – 250 g;
greenhouse –350 – 400 g.

On average, the yield in summer cottages is from 2.5 kg/m2, on an industrial scale – 256 – 477 c/ha.

Growing seedlings (with and without picking)

Which method of growing pepper seedlings to choose - with or without picking - each gardener decides for himself. To avoid replanting, which damages the root system of plants, seeds are immediately sown in separate containers or peat tablets. If this is not possible, planting is carried out in a common box. Then, when real leaves appear, they are picked into separate cups.

Planting pepper

The time for planting seedlings depends on the subsequent method of planting in the ground. At the end of January, seeds are sown for growing peppers in a greenhouse, in the first half of March - for cultivation in open ground. The soil must be pre-moistened before planting. No fertilizer is required during sowing. It is important to maintain a planting depth of no more than 2 cm. At a greater depth, seedlings will be late and the plants themselves will be depleted.

Further care

After sowing, they provide optimal soil and air moisture and maintain the required temperature conditions. Water the seedlings only with warm water. If all planting and plant care conditions are met, the seeds will sprout after 14 days.

With the appearance of the first shoots, maintain a temperature of no more than +24 °C and provide the seedlings with constant lighting. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours. If this condition is not met, the bushes will stretch out and become deformed.

By the time the first two true leaves are formed, the seedlings are fertilized with mineral fertilizers. They use ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium fertilizers diluted in water. The fertilizing procedure must be repeated 14 days after the first; the amount of fertilizer applied is doubled.

You can start planting seedlings in a greenhouse or open ground after 50 days. It is important to harden. To do this, it is necessary to accustom the peppers to lower temperatures, sun and winds by taking the seedlings outside. By the time of planting in the ground, at least 5 leaves should form on each bush. An important condition is that the soil warms up to at least +13 °C, otherwise the plant’s root system may die.

Landing

The seeds of the hybrid are prepared for planting (disinfected, stimulated); before sowing, it is enough to soak them and keep them in warm water.

The sowing period is from the end of February to the end of March inclusive.

With planned cultivation in heated greenhouses, planting begins in January. For seedlings, peat pots (10 by 10 cm), plastic glasses (0.2 l each), or cassette containers (with a side of at least 10–12 cm) are suitable.

The bushes are cared for according to standard rules:

water with settled water;
feed 2 times (Fertika, mullein solution diluted 1:12);
hardened at 14–16 degrees for 10 days;
additionally illuminated with phytolights up to a total day length of 14 hours.

It is useful to include potassium salt (1 g), saltpeter and superphosphate (3 g each) in the fertilizer per 1 liter of water. The solution is used to fertilize twice.

At 50–60 days of age, young bushes of the variety are ready for planting in a permanent plot. Their height should be 16–20 cm, the number of leaves should be at least 6.

Features of growing the variety and possible difficulties

Growing the Gemini f1 hybrid requires frequent watering of the soil, under-bush loosening and fertilizing. Another mandatory requirement is mulching, which helps provide roots with protection from temperature changes and retains moisture in the soil.

Feeding is carried out 3 times:

7 days after planting in the ground;
when the plant blooms;
when fruits begin to form.

As a fertilizer, it is enough to use fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium. You cannot use fertilizers with chlorine - the hybrid does not like such fertilizers.

The formation of a bush is carried out in one stem. All emerging shoots are removed. The first flower that appears is cut off, this will allow the plant to form more friendly ovaries in the future.

Attention! Since the fruits of the hybrid are heavy, tying the bushes to a support is mandatory.

Caring for Gemini peppers

As mentioned earlier, the Gemini pepper variety is not demanding in care and maintenance. However, like any other vegetable crop, it needs timely watering, mulching and fertilizer.

Watering

Water the peppers exclusively with warm, settled water. It is recommended to water in the morning. This will allow moisture to remain in the soil throughout the day, and not evaporate during the day under the influence of the sun.

Water no more than once every 5 days. Excessively wet soil can provoke the emergence and reproduction of harmful insects.

Feeding

Fertilize the seedlings three times throughout the entire season, no more. There is no point in overfeeding the plant, even with useful substances. For the first time, fertilizing is applied 7 days after transplanting the seedlings into the ground. The second time, at the moment the inflorescences appear, they resort to the help of fertilizer, which is based on phosphorus and potassium. The final step in fertilizing is the formation of the pepper.

It is worth mentioning that this variety categorically does not tolerate substances such as chlorine. Therefore, if possible, refuse to apply mineral fertilizers that contain this chemical element.

Maturation

The Gemini variety, like other bell peppers, has two stages of ripening - technical and biological. The first is characterized by the presence of a light greenish tint to the skin, while at the biological stage, Gemini peppers acquire their famous canary shade.

In order to speed up the ripening process, technically ripe peppers are picked from the bushes and sent to a dark, warm place. After a couple of days, the peppers will acquire their beautiful shade and will be ready to eat. Artificial ripening can significantly speed up the harvesting process.

Harvest and storage

Peppers must be picked with extreme caution to avoid injury to the branches of the bush. If you delay harvesting, you can cause the next one to stop growing. In total, from 4 to 6 harvests of bell peppers are harvested during the growing season. The final harvest occurs a couple of days before the onset of the first frost.

Correct sorting of peppers of this variety is one of the important components of storage. To begin, arrange the fruits, relying on the following factors - ripeness and size. Like many other vegetable crops, the Gemini bell pepper has low shelf life, that is, the ability to maintain its presentation for a long time.

If not properly cared for, the peppers will begin to rot after just three days. To prevent this from happening, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

Select peppers for storage without any damage (cracks, scratches, dents or stains).
Only technically ripe fruits are suitable for long-term storage.
Pay attention to the walls of the pepper. If fruits with thin walls have grown on the bush, it is recommended to store the vegetables in the freezer.
Peppers left for storage must undergo a little preliminary preparation. To do this, just cut off the stalk.
For ease of storage, they resort to using various containers. This can be a wooden box or an ordinary plastic bag. The latter option is preferable because the bag produces carbon dioxide when sealed. It is a well-known fact that carbon dioxide can displace oxygen. In this way, a kind of “microclimate” is created inside the package, allowing any product to retain its taste and external qualities.

In addition, Gemini peppers can be stored in baskets or on shelves in the basement. The only condition is maintaining the same temperature regime. It should be between 9 and 12 degrees.

The humidity level should not be less than 85%. An alternative to a plastic bag can be plain paper. Bell peppers wrapped in paper can retain their taste and fresh presentation for almost two months.

Another equally important nuance of storing Gemini peppers is the smell. The fact is that the fruits of this variety are extremely susceptible to foreign odors and absorb them quite easily. Make sure that the container in which you plan to store the fruit is absolutely clean.