Early ripening, sweet and juicy variety of pepper “Red Shovel”: review and growing instructions

What type of pepper is this?

The variety is early ripening: the harvest is harvested 80 days after the appearance of the first shoots. Seedlings are prepared in early March. The variety is grown in greenhouses, greenhouses, and open ground.

Peculiarities

The bushes are low, about 70 cm in length.
The leaves are medium sized, dark green. 10–12 fruits ripen on one plant, so summer residents tie them to a support. The vegetable is cold-resistant, has immunity to major diseases and pests.

Fruit characteristics and yield

Cone-shaped, elongated fruits have a slightly rough surface. The weight of each varies from 120 to 160 g, in some cases reaching 200 g.

The wall thickness is 1 cm, so the crop is perfectly stored and can withstand transportation. The color is dark red, the flesh is juicy and crisp. The taste is sweet, with a pronounced aroma. Up to 7 kg of vegetables are harvested from 1 m2.

Important ! Red Shovel pepper is used to prepare pickled and canned preparations for the winter: salads, snacks, lecho. The vegetable goes well with meat and fish dishes and is suitable for fresh consumption.

Characteristics

Like all types of peppers, Red cheeks are not frost-resistant. It is planted in a permanent location only after the threat of return frosts has passed. But the variety is well adapted to low and high temperatures, as well as their differences. Tolerates moisture deficiency well. During short-term drought, it continues to bloom and form ovaries. But the fruits may not reach the sizes declared by the breeders.

Interesting fact!

Many attribute the crop’s resistance to weather conditions to the fact that the variety belongs to the Siberian selection, since one of the official sellers of Red Cheeks pepper seeds is.

The Red Cheeks variety is mid-season. Pepper reaches biological maturity 120-130 days after germination. The beginning of mass fruiting occurs at the end of July or beginning of August. At the same time, 7-8 fruits can ripen on one bush. The fruiting period is long. In the long, warm autumn, bright peppers will delight you until the end of September.

Red cheek pepper has good yield. From 1 m² they harvest up to 6-8 kg. Feeding and timely watering during fruiting will help increase it. Whatever gardeners say, it is better to provide supports. The abundance of large fruits often breaks the branches of the plant. In addition, you need to regularly pick off ripe peppers, stimulating the formation of new ones.

Vegetable growers also like Red Cheek peppers for their high commercial qualities. It is stored for a long time in a cool place and is easily transported over long distances. If necessary, you can remove fruits at the stage of technical maturity. They ripen well during storage.

Bright color, thick walls and excellent taste allow Red cheek peppers to be widely used in cooking. It is great for preparing fresh salads, baking in the oven or grilling, and decorating dishes. For the winter, it is frozen, pickled, and used to make lecho.

"Pros and cons"

Reviews of the Red Cheeks pepper variety are positive. The advantages include:

• Possibility of growing in greenhouses and outdoors;
• resistance to the vagaries of weather;
• relative drought resistance;
• long fruiting period;
• high productivity;
• large fruits of an attractive appearance;
• thick and fleshy walls;
• excellent taste and product characteristics;
• versatility in application;
• unpretentiousness in cultivation;

The variety has virtually no disadvantages. Only some vegetable growers claim that today it is possible to find varieties that are more disease-resistant.

Preparation for cultivation

Prepare seeds for planting in advance. Select heavy and large specimens. To do this, prepare a saline solution and immerse the seeds in it for 10 minutes. After time, those seeds that sank to the bottom are selected for seedlings. The weak ones remaining on the surface are thrown away. Further preparation involves:

1. Treating seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect them.
2. Treatment with the drug "Epin" . The product improves seed germination and strengthens the immunity of the future plant.
3. Hardening : the grains are soaked in warm water for a couple of minutes, then placed in the freezer for a day. This will make the crop more resistant to adverse weather conditions.

The soil for seedlings should be loose and insulated. You can prepare a mixture of soil from the garden and soil from the store. Disinfect the seedling soil in the oven by placing it there for 40 minutes at a temperature of +80 °C. The land should be clean, free of debris and weeds.

Important ! Young peppers are also grown in coconut substrate. This is an environmentally friendly material consisting of coconut fibers. Sold in brick form at any gardening store. It has high moisture capacity, breathability, and is environmentally friendly.

Growing seedlings

The seedling method protects the future harvest from diseases and pests, and improves the taste of the fruit. Let's take a closer look at the process itself.

Landing

Bell peppers are grown in plastic cups or cardboard boxes. The container is filled 3/4 of the way with soil, and the soil is compacted with the palm of your hand. Make small grooves, placing 2-3 seeds in each. Sprinkle the top with soil and water generously with warm water.

To create a greenhouse effect, the seedlings are covered with a thin film and placed on a warm, sunny windowsill. Remove the film after 5–7 days.

Important ! If one large seedling container is used for planting, then the peppers are not picked. In the case of cups or pots, when the first leaves appear, the plants are transplanted into larger containers. Otherwise, the bushes will not have enough space for further full development.

Seedling care

The optimal temperature for growing the Red Shovel variety is from +22 °C to +25 °C. The soil in the containers is sprayed with water from a spray bottle once every 3 days. Water once every 5 days with warm, settled water. Before each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil with a fork so that the roots receive oxygen. The depth of loosening is about 1 cm, deeper will touch the roots.

The strengthened seedlings are hardened off. 10 days before planting in open ground, take them out into the fresh air. At the same time, the plants are sprayed with nettle or burdock infusion. The procedure protects against insects and strengthens the immune system. After the first three leaves appear, the pepper is fed. Add a solution of liquid mullein or chicken manure. To improve the taste of future fruits, plants are sprayed with Intermag.

Vegetable garden planting and care

Plant seedlings on a cloudy day. The beds are prepared in advance: they dig up the ground, clear it of debris, weeds, and leaves. The best predecessors for bell peppers are cabbage, onions or greens. It is recommended to fertilize the beds with vermiculite, a mineral that saturates the soil with minerals and reduces soil acidity.

Planting scheme for the Red Shovel variety - 40x60 . Greater density will lead to the development of diseases and the growth of weeds. Bushes are planted in a greenhouse in mid-May, in open ground - in early June. The seedlings are moved into the beds carefully so as not to damage the weak and fragile roots. Next, water it with warm water, sprinkle the base of the stem with peat chips.

Care consists of timely watering and fertilizing. Moisten the beds in the morning or evening to avoid sunburn. About 1-2 liters of water are consumed per plant, depending on the size of the bush. Foliar and root fertilizers are used: liquid manure, urea, spraying with Bordeaux mixture, potassium superphosphate. It is recommended to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers. Feed the bushes at intervals of 15–20 days.

Cultivation technology to obtain good yields

The variety has a long growing season, so it is grown mainly in seedlings. Before planting seedlings, they are grown for an average of two months. When the budding phase begins, they are planted in well-prepared soil. It may not be entirely fertile, provided that it is additionally fertilized. Optimally, it is recommended to plant seedlings in fertile soil with good water conditions. The timing of planting seedlings is the same as for the “Red Bull” variety, namely the end of February - the beginning of March. The seedlings themselves are planted closer to summer. In a greenhouse, planting can take place in May, and in the ground outside in early June. When planting, ensure abundant watering. This procedure will help the plant adapt more easily and begin intensive growth.

Advantages of the seedling method of growing

• Increased seed germination
• Leveling out adverse weather conditions
• Saving land area when sowing
• Regulating the timing of harvesting (depending on the timing of sowing)

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

During the growing process, it is important to follow the regime of mineral fertilizing. Pepper will be negatively affected by both a lack and an excess of fertilizers. When adding mineral complexes, carefully study the dosage and recommendations of the manufacturer.

You cannot fertilize plants at intervals of less than 10 days, otherwise the green mass will increase and the fruits themselves will remain small. If there is still too much fertilizer, the beds are watered generously with warm water, then sprinkled with dry wood ash.

Important ! To prevent the bushes from breaking under the weight of ripe fruits, they are tied to a support. Tied shoots look beautiful and take up less space.

If the variety is grown in a greenhouse, then seedlings are sown at the end of May, when the soil warms up to +15 °C. The row spacing must be at least 12 cm. To maintain the microclimate, the greenhouse is regularly ventilated, doors and vents are opened. Watering greenhouse peppers requires less water: approximately 1 liter per bush.

Agricultural technology

Planting seedlings (features)

When stable warm weather sets in (night temperatures do not fall below 10°C, and daytime temperatures are 15-17°C). You can start planting seedlings in the greenhouse. Humus is added at the rate of 8-10 kg per square meter, superphosphate and potassium sulfate at 30-40 g. per 1 square meter (fertilizers can be applied immediately before planting, 1 teaspoon in each hole).

Plant care and formation

The stem of the pepper is fragile, so immediately after planting the plant is tied to a stake and watered. Further care comes down to watering (always with warm water), careful, shallow loosening (the root system of the pepper is located in the top layer of soil) and a little hilling for the growth of additional roots. To form bushes, it is necessary to remove the first bud for better branching and the formation of additional shoots. 3-4 stems are left on the plant, of which the two strongest are selected, which must be tied up. The remaining shoots are used only for the first harvest, leaving no more than two fruits on each.

Typical diseases and pests

Despite the high immunity of the crop, if not properly cared for, the Red Shovel variety is susceptible to the following diseases and pests:

1. Top rot occurs due to an excess of nitrogen and watering with cold water. The bushes weaken and become covered with a dark coating. Fertilizers with dry wood ash are used as a preventive and therapeutic agent.
2. Powdery mildew - a white coating on the leaves and stems occurs due to hot summers and high humidity. Prevention - treatment of bushes with a whey solution.
3. Late blight. The reasons for the appearance of fungus are contaminated soil and seeds, improper care, sudden temperature changes. Signs: brown spots on the bush, fruits. Infected plants are removed from the beds and burned. The rest are treated with Oxyx or Maxim.
4. Aphid. The pest appears due to heat, high humidity and weeds. A small white bug feeds on plant sap and disrupts their metabolism. Spraying with iodine helps against aphids.
5. The Colorado potato beetle and its larvae are dangerous for both young peppers and adults. Get rid of the pest using the drug "Typhoon".

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

One of the advantages is versatility . The sweet and juicy pulp is consumed fresh and after heat treatment.

Red spade shows stable and high productivity, rarely gets sick, and is suitable for growing in greenhouses and open ground. The thick walls of the fruits protect them from pests. Vegetables can be stored in a basement or cellar until winter.

The disadvantage of this variety is the need for garter. If you do not fix the plant in time, the peppers will end up on the ground, which will increase the risk of developing diseases.

Pepper “Red Shovel”: pleases with early ripening

Summer residents are actively sowing pepper seedlings, but there are also those who do not know what to plant. It’s not so easy to choose a variety, because there are a lot of them sold in stores now. How not to make a mistake? Go shopping for seeds already knowing what exactly you need. In our article you can get acquainted with the “Red Shovel” pepper, read its characteristics and description of the variety, reviews, see photos, who planted it. And you will already understand whether this option is suitable for you or not.

general information

The variety was developed by Russian breeders, endowing it with a number of good qualities. Summer residents praise the pepper; many love it precisely because of its interesting shape - it is very convenient for canning in its entirety. The fruits fit neatly and quite compactly into the jar, making preparations for housewives is a pleasure. Every summer resident can grow the variety; for this you can use the street and greenhouses - film or polycarbonate. Agricultural technology is quite simple. Due to the long growing season, the crop is cultivated using the seedling method.

Characteristics and description

Description of the bush

“Red Shovel” has a medium-sized bush - up to 50-80 cm. Its crown is medium-leafy, spreading slightly to the sides. It is better to plant no more than 4 seedlings per meter square, so that everyone has enough space and light. Due to their height, the bushes do not tolerate strong winds and are capricious about drafts. Therefore, it is better to select a secluded, bright place on the site where excess moisture will not collect. Can be used for strong support. One bush produces about 15 vegetables.

Fruit

As you already understand, the variety has unusual peppers - flattened. This is why some people grow Red Shovel. By the name you can understand that the color of the skin is red. These are ideal peppers for canning not only due to their shape, but also due to their thick walls - up to 8 mm. This allows for stuffing. The fruits are perfectly stored frozen and can be dried for adding to soups and sauces - they acquire a pleasant, subtle peppery aroma. What else can be said about the Red Shovel sweet pepper and its fruits?

• The harvest is quite large - up to 150-200 grams.
• The skin is dense, but not hard.
• The shape of the peppers is an elongated and flattened cone.
• The taste is pleasant peppery, the flesh is very juicy.
• The harvest is well stored and can easily be transported over long distances.
• It has a universal table purpose - pepper can be eaten fresh, processed, frozen, dried, or pressed into juice.
• The yield per square meter is 5-6 kg, which is quite good.

Maturation

The “Red Shovel” pepper variety will delight you with its early ripening. You will be able to eat healthy fruits within 100-110 days after the seeds sprout. In greenhouse conditions and in southern climates, the timing is always earlier. In temperate climates and outdoor cultivation, the growing season may be slightly longer. It also all depends on the weather in a particular year. Therefore, in some places the timing will be early, in others mid-early, but still this variety ripens quite quickly.

And here “Red Shovel” is ahead among many of its brothers. Breeders have worked hard and made the variety resistant to diseases, and pests do not bother it. Problems can only arise if agricultural technology is very poor and your garden is neglected. If you do everything on time, growing this variety will be a pleasure. Summer residents speak very highly of “Red Shovel”.

Reviews from gardeners

What do gardeners say about the Red Shovel variety? Let's look at a few reviews from popular online forums:

Ilya, Chelyabinsk: “I’ve been planting the Red Shovel variety for three years now. Peppers growing in a greenhouse. Even in cold and short summer conditions, the harvest is excellent: from 1 sq. “I collect from 5 to 7 kg of vegetables.”

Alexandra, Ufa: “Red spade is a good variety. Does not require special care, tastes pleasant. I prepare lecho or fermented snacks for the winter from vegetables. The whole family loves to eat them.”

Marina, Penza: “The Red Shovel variety has taken root poorly on my site. I planted seedlings and the bushes began to grow only after 3 weeks. The plants are low, the maximum height of the bush is 50 cm. The peppers themselves grew sluggish, with a watery taste.”