We choose varieties of hot and sweet peppers for 2022 based on descriptions and reviews

We invite everyone who “likes it hot” to get acquainted with the most common hybrids and varieties of hot peppers - also known as bitter, red, capsicum, hot, chili, spicy, etc., their main characteristics, and criteria for choosing seed. The fruits of this vegetable crop are so spicy that sometimes a tiny piece of them is enough to increase appetite and obtain a rich taste of dishes.

The Trinidad Scorpion pepper (pictured) is recognized as the hottest in the world; the fruits are bright red, spherical in shape with a pointed nose, reminiscent of a scorpion's sting

Many domestic amateur vegetable growers grow “hot” peppers not only for the sake of obtaining good yields of healthy fruits, but also as an “edible” ornamental plant that decorates the interior of a room, balcony, patio, as well as the appearance of a personal plot. That is, they realize the opportunity to enjoy the results of their work both aesthetically - admiring the beauty of plants, and gastronomically - using the vegetable in the preparation of familiar and exotic dishes.

Hot peppers are widely distributed throughout the world. It is grown most often in the countries of Southeast Asia and Africa. Among some southern peoples, the consumption of chili pepper, due to established culinary traditions and customs, is 0.6-1.2 kg on average per year per adult.

The best varieties of pepper

The selection includes the best varieties of hot and sweet peppers for 2022, reviews of which are available on the forums. The new items included in the State Register deserve attention. An interesting sweet pepper, Egyptian Strength, with small but heavy fruits (130–150 g) will appeal to lovers of thick-walled pods. The thickness of the fleshy walls is about 10 mm. A new variety was developed in Novosibirsk. It is early ripening (96–98 days), universal.

What to plant in a greenhouse

Sweet pepper Kupets, bred at the West Siberian Experimental Station, shows stable yields in greenhouses. Large pyramidal, aromatic fruits weighing 70–100 g are formed on semi-spreading bushes. Ripe fruits have red, juicy flesh, the wall thickness is 5–7 mm.

Consistently productive variety Zdorovye. The peppers are not large (40 g), cone-shaped, the thickness of the pulp is 3–5 mm. On low 60 cm bushes, about 15 fruits are set. Summer residents choose the variety for its early ripening and stable yield.

The best varieties of hot peppers

Varieties of hot peppers are grown to make seasonings. They give the preparations a specific aroma and pungency. In addition, the pods are used as a folk remedy in the treatment of rheumatism. Rubs are made from them. Summer residents grow several types of hot peppers:

1. Capsicum annuum. The bushes are 30–50 cm high. The fruits are moderately sharp, fleshy, and ripen early (70–80 days).
2. Capsicum chinense. The pods are very pungent with a fruity aroma.
3. Capsicum baccatum. Bushes up to 1.5 m tall are often grown at home. The taste of the pods is moderately spicy, the shape is berry-shaped.

Recommendations for growing red chilli peppers

Unlike its close relative, the sweet pepper, the hot pepper is not so capricious and whimsical, although it does require good care. If only simply because this crop is heat-loving, and if you want to get more than two or three pods on a bush, then you need to follow all the agricultural techniques.

Fruitful varieties (and almost all hot red peppers are like this) produce a very large number of fruits with proper care, so a few bushes on the site will be enough.

What should you pay attention to?

1. For regions with a short summer season and a small number of warm days, it is best to select early ripening varieties.
2. When planning plantings, plant hot peppers away from sweet peppers (if you plan to take seeds from them). If you use only purchased seed material, then you don’t have to worry about cross-pollination of plants and grow them side by side.
3. To obtain a harvest, you will first need to grow seedlings, and only then plant the plants on ridges, in greenhouses or a greenhouse.
4. When buying seeds, pay attention to the expiration dates, since peppers have the best germination after 1-2 years, and after three years the performance drops sharply.
5. Pepper seedlings must be at least 60 days old when planted. Based on this, as well as the ripening time of the variety, the climate and weather of the area, it is necessary to choose the sowing time. The best time is considered to be February-March, so it is by the middle of the last month of winter that the soil and containers for seedlings should be prepared.

6. Decide what varieties of pepper you will grow - for pickling and marinades, for drying, for fresh use. Many hot peppers are universal, but there are also specific varieties that are suitable only for a certain type of preparation.
7. For growing seedlings, purchased soil (for tomatoes, peppers) is suitable, which should be loose and nutritious. It is better not to use peat mixtures or add humus and high-quality turf soil to them.
8. It is recommended to grow hot peppers without picking. Plants get sick less, grow better and then adapt faster to the beds. For planting, use a variety of containers, not forgetting about drainage.
9. To fertilize at home, it is advisable to use complex fertilizers, ready-made formulations with various microelements.
10. Seedlings must be hardened off before planting, for which the peppers are taken out into the fresh air. This should be done approximately 10-12 days before the peppers “move”; the time of procedures in the air starts from 15-20 minutes and increases (in good weather) to several hours.

11. When buds appear on the bushes, the first flower is usually removed so that it does not draw the plant’s attention and nutrients.
12. It is imperative to follow the recommendations for planting peppers. This crop can grow in compacted plantings (for example, in a greenhouse with tomatoes), but it is important that all plants have enough sunlight. Low-growing peppers can be planted more often (up to 5-6 bushes per square meter), taller varieties are planted less often.
13. Hot peppers are not easily affected by diseases; they are not bothered by insect pests. This is due to the presence of capsaicin in the fruits, which gives peppers their hotness. Some varieties of pepper are also very aromatic, so there is no particular threat to the plantings.
14. It is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the varieties, since there are peppers that need regular watering; for other varieties this is not so important. Feeding is also needed, and is usually combined with watering.
15. Nitrogen is added as fertilizer (during the initial growing season), later peppers need potassium and phosphorus. Hot pepper responds well to the addition of ash and superphosphate.

16. In order for the ovaries to form better on the peppers, you can very carefully shake the bushes in the mornings during the flowering period.
17. It is not at all necessary to wait for the pods to fully ripen. A number of varieties, for example, Jalapeño, are recommended to be harvested only at the stage of technical maturity in order to obtain sharp fruits. Later the pods will become sweetish. This harvesting will allow the plant to form more fruits and the yield will be higher.
18. Low-growing varieties of peppers can be dug up from the garden at the end of summer and planted in pots to grow at home. To do this, you will need to select a spacious container and fill it with good soil. If everything is done correctly, the peppers will continue to bear fruit indoors (with sufficient lighting). The main thing is not to forget to water and provide warmth to the plants.

Red hot pepper is becoming more and more popular among gardeners, because how nice it is to grow your own hot seasoning in your own garden. Our review will allow you to decide on some varieties and choose the most suitable bitter pepper with bright colorful fruits for you.

How does the choice depend on the region?

Pepper is a crop that loves warmth, so if May, the second half of August and September are cold, not all varieties have time to form the harvest indicated in the description. Therefore, when choosing seeds, take into account the climatic features of the area, plant those whose growing season ends before the onset of cold weather.

Varieties for the Urals and Siberia

May be interesting Description of the pepper variety “Victoria” When to plant pepper seedlings in 2022 in the middle zone, taking into account the lunar phases Aphids on peppers: how to treat them, effective means

In short summer conditions, the most productive varieties are grown, in which the growing season and ripening period does not exceed 95–110 days. Breeders are developing varieties for Siberia and the Urals that are adapted to difficult weather conditions and low light levels. Summer residents of Trans-Urals, Siberia, and the Urals should try varieties (hybrids) that have proven themselves worthy in the conditions of the short Siberian summer:

1. Gypsy F1. An unpretentious, ultra-early hybrid for open ground. Any beginning gardener can get a medium-sized harvest (6 × 15 cm) of conical peppers if he sows seeds for seedlings in February and transplants them into open ground in early June. The color of fruits that are beginning to ripen is yellow-orange, and that of ripe ones is red. The walls are no thicker than 5 mm.
2. Siberian prince. Can be grown in a greenhouse and in open ground. Peppers turn red after 124 days; before that they are light green. Productivity in greenhouses is higher than in open ground - 4.5–5 kg/m² versus 3 kg/m².
3. Latino F1. Summer residents appreciated this early-ripening hybrid. Its characteristics satisfy demanding gardeners. The fruits ripen on the bushes 3–3.5 months after emergence. They have a convenient cuboid shape, decent weight (180–200 g) and thick walls. Latino tolerates heat well and is resistant to TMV 0–2 and PVY viruses. The yield of the hybrid is determined by agricultural technology - 7–14 kg/m².

4. Montero F1. The bushes are tall and indeterminate, so they are profitable to grow in a greenhouse. Green, prism-shaped peppers can be picked for food after 90–100 days; they turn red 110–120 days after emergence. The taste of the fruits is good, they are thick-walled (8 mm), weigh from 260 g.
5. Orange beauty. 3 months after the emergence of seedlings, the first peppers are formed; they become bright yellow-orange after 110–115 days. The four-chambered, cube-shaped fruits weigh 180–200 g; housewives like to stuff them. They have thick (8–9 mm), aromatic pulp containing β-carotene. The universal hybrid is grown in Siberia in open and closed ground. From 1 m² you get 8–9 kg of juicy, appetizing peppers.

Varieties for the Moscow region

In the central regions of Russia, seedlings are planted in the ground at the age of 45 days. Ultra-early ripening hybrids for growing in open ground are popular among summer residents: Zdorovye, Pluto, early and mid-ripening varieties:

1. Mercedes. When planted in open ground in early June, the fruits ripen in early August. It takes 60 days to form and mature. The bushes are low (70 cm), so they are easy to care for. The fruits are shiny, bright red, conical, 15–20 of them are formed on one plant.
2. Agapovsky. Grown indoors. Selected for productivity and disease resistance.
3. Star of the East. The time-tested series of F1 hybrids. There is a chocolate one, a white one in red, and a white Star of the East. Summer residents choose this hybrid for the good taste of large cube-shaped fruits, stable immunity, early ripening, and transportability.
4. Belladonna. A win-win choice for a summer resident. The bushes of this industrious hybrid are strewn with pale green fruits all season long. The branches have to be tied up so that they do not break due to the abundance of peppers. Belladonna is grown in tunnels, greenhouses, and open ground.

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Seeds soaked in Zircon for 12 hours germinate in 3 days.

Popular varieties and hybrids: brief descriptions with photos

Let's start with the most common, well-proven varieties of hot peppers (according to experts and amateur vegetable growers) when grown under film covers and in open ground:

“Ram's Horn” An early ripening variety, included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2012, recommended for gardening throughout the country. Medium height plant. The fruits are drooping, trunk-shaped, weighing 120 g. The color in technical ripeness is greenish-white, in biological ripeness it is dark red. The taste is very spicy. Great for marinating. Productivity (under film covers) averages 3 kg/m2. It is considered resistant to waterlogging, unpretentious and productive.

Packaging of seeds and bush of pepper "Ram's Horn"

“Magic Bouquet” A mid-season variety of domestic selection, included in the State Register in 2000. The period from full germination to the beginning of technical ripeness of the fruit is 112 days. The plant is determinate, semi-spreading, densely leafy, 70-75 cm high, does not require shaping. The fruits are elongated-cone-shaped, weighing 2.7 g; collected in bundles of 5-10 pieces. In the phase of technical ripeness they are green in color, in biological ripeness they are red with a strong glossy sheen. They have a pungent taste and a pronounced aroma, and are perfect for canning and drying. The yield under film covers is about 1 kg per square meter.

Advantages of the variety: bouquet arrangement of fruits, their strong peppery aroma

“Homera F1” An early maturing hybrid of Dutch origin, included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2010. The plant is closed and tall. The fruits are narrowly cone-shaped, slightly wrinkled, weighing 28-35 g. In the phase of technical ripeness they are light green in color, in biological ripeness they are red with a pronounced glossy sheen. They have a spicy taste and a light classic aroma. Ideal for home cooking and canning. Productivity in open ground reaches 3.2 kg/m².

The wall thickness averages 3.5 mm, the flesh becomes dark red when fully ripe

“Joker” A mid-season variety registered in the State Register since 2012, intended for cultivation in open ground and under film covers in private household plots throughout the Russian Federation. The bushes are semi-spreading, medium-sized. The fruits are drooping, trunk-shaped, slightly wrinkled, weighing 50-70 g. In the phase of technical ripeness they are green in color, in biological ripeness they are dark red with a pronounced glossy sheen. The taste is pungent, with a strong aroma. Designed for home cooking and canning. The yield of marketable fruits under film cover is 3.2-4 kg/m². The plant tolerates drought well and requires light.

Packaging of seeds and a bush of “Joker” pepper, bearing fruit in protected soil conditions

“Burning Nose” Belongs to the group of mid-season varieties, included in the State Register in 2011. The plant is semi-spreading and tall. The fruits are drooping, trunk-shaped, of medium length, slightly wrinkled, weighing about 30 g, walls 3.5-4.0 mm thick. The color at technical ripeness is light green, at biological ripeness it is red. The taste of the pods is perfectly revealed when marinated. The average yield under film covers is 3.5-3.8 kg/m².

The variety is valued for its drought resistance and high yield yield.

“Black Lightning F1” An early ripening hybrid, included in the State Register in 2006. The plant is spreading, tall (100-125 cm). The fruits are drooping, narrowly cone-shaped, weighing 80-90 g. In the phase of technical ripeness they are dark purple in color, in biological ripeness they are dark red. They are distinguished by a semi-sharp, piquant taste, which is revealed to its maximum during canning and home cooking. Productivity (under film covers) is about 6 kg/m².

Packaging of seeds and ovaries forming on the bush of the hybrid “Black Lightning”

Shrub pepper for indoor growing

Almost all plants belonging to the genus Capsicum can be cultivated at home. To do this, it is recommended to choose small-fruited, low-growing, compact forms. Many vegetable growers prefer bush pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.), as this vegetable, very ornamental plant can decorate any room and provide a constant fresh supply of hot vitamin seasoning. According to reviews, vegetable growers from most regions of our country choose varieties that are early or mid-early in terms of ripening, since pepper is a light-loving plant. It must be placed on a window sill or on an insulated loggia, and when daylight is short, it must be illuminated with special lamps. As practice shows, with continuous lighting for 50-60 days, the formation of ovaries accelerates and the fruit yield increases.

Post-Soviet “spicy” lovers traditionally cultivate miniature “light” peppers in pots and flowerpots near “southern” windows

The relatively small root system allows plants of this crop to develop in a limited volume of soil and bear fruit in one pot for more than a year. For full growth, a container with a diameter of 12-15 cm and a height of 17-20 cm is sufficient (with proper care and protection from diseases and pests).

You can learn more about the peculiarities of cultivating hot peppers indoors from the video:

As of 2022, 27 hybrids and varieties of shrub pepper are registered in the State Register of the Russian Federation, which is suitable for home and garden cultivation in all regions of the country. Here are brief descriptions of some of them:

“Aladdin” Included in the State Register in 2007, it belongs to the mid-season variety and is characterized by extended ripening. The plant is small (45-60 cm high), compact, with a strong stem and a bouquet of fruits. On one bush, 10-16 peppercorns are formed, directed upward, having a narrow cone-shaped shape and weighing from 1.5 to 3.5 g. The color of the pods in the technical ripeness phase is greenish, yellowish, lilac, in the biological stage - red. The taste is pungent with a strong peppery aroma. The fruits are used for canning, drying and as a ground seasoning.

Packaging of seeds and Aladdin bush on the windowsill

“Iskra” is a mid-early variety, included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2022. Maturation is extended. The plant is a standard, semi-spreading, decorative plant, successfully grown indoors, in open ground and under film. On one bush, 70-90 peppercorns are formed, directed upward. The fruits are narrowly cone-shaped, 5-6 cm long, used in canning and for making aromatic seasonings. In the phase of technical ripeness the color is yellowish, in biological ripeness it is red. The taste is pungent with a strong peppery aroma. Productivity – 1.2-1.4 kg/m².

Peppercorns on the same plant are painted in different colors, indicating the degree of ripeness

“Mexican” An early ripening variety included in the State Register in 2022, recommended for cultivation in open ground and under film covers throughout Russia, as well as in potted plants indoors. The plant is semi-spreading, of medium height. The fruits are drooping, cone-shaped, smooth, weighing 4-6 g, purple in color at technical ripeness and dark red with a glossy sheen when fully ripe. The taste is pungent, ideal for canning and pickling. Productivity is about 1-1.5 kg/m².

Packaging of seeds and bush “Mexican” at the stage of flowering and ovary formation

“Samotsvet F1” Early ripening hybrid variety, included in the State Register in 2012. Well suited for growing at home and in garden plots. The bush is compact, low-growing, with shortened internodes in the upper part of the stem. The fruits, collected in bouquets of 8-10 pieces, are directed upward, have a round shape, weigh on average 8-10 g. The color is dark purple at technical ripeness and bright red with a glossy sheen at the stage of full ripening. The taste is spicy. The fruits have a universal purpose: they are used to add spice to everyday dishes, canning, and drying. Productivity is about 1.5-1.9 kg/m².

The beautiful shape of the crown, which does not require pruning, and the miniature, round, brightly colored peppercorns make the plant highly decorative

“Sly Fox” Mid-season variety, listed in the State Register since 2022. The bush is compact, low-growing, closed. The pods are directed upward, cone-shaped, weighing 5-6 g. Green at technical ripeness and bright dark orange with a glossy sheen at the stage of full ripening. The taste is scorching. Productivity is about 0.7 kg/m².

Packaging of seeds and bush “Sly Fox” during the period of active fruiting

Varieties for the middle zone

The yield of pepper depends on the variety, but agricultural technology also plays an important role. You can plant excellent seeds, but grow stunted bushes with puny fruits. The varieties described below are all suitable for the climate of the Middle Zone. They were grown by summer residents of the Tula region.

For planting, loose soil prepared from a mixture of forest soil taken from under a birch tree, peat, and sand is suitable. Seeds can be sown in a common bowl and, at the stage of 1–2 true leaves, scattered into transparent plastic cups. Water the seedlings regularly at the root, feed them once with a low concentration solution of calcium nitrate, and spray the leaves several times with HB 101 (1 drop per liter).

Snake

A sweet variety, early ripening (100–110 days), the fruits of which resemble pods of hot pepper. They are thin (1.5 cm) and long (20 cm). The shape is curved, hooked. Individual specimens are twisted into rings. The bushes are not low (70 cm), they begin to bloom early. No formation required.

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Snake pepper bushes are very decorative; they are grown in containers and used as an ornamental crop.

The first fruits, weighing 20–25 g, ripen in June, the last - before the first frost. They are bright red, the walls have an average thickness of 3–4 mm. From a bed of 1 m², 3.5 kg of Snake pepper is collected. The fruits are suitable for salads, first and second courses, and canning. Snake is a variety, so your seeds can be used for propagation.

Hercules

Hercules will delight you with thick-walled cube-shaped peppers. Its bushes are low (55 cm), and they rarely get sick. Rainy weather does not affect the yield. Ripe fruits are red, the most worthy ones weigh about 300 g. The pulp is juicy, thick - 7 mm.

Landing

To grow the variety, a bed or greenhouse is prepared in the fall:

1. If possible, the greenhouse is placed on a sunny hill.
2. If it is not possible to move it, the soil is changed (top layer up to 7-15 cm deep).
3. In open ground, dig up a bed and remove the remains of old plants.
4. Apply about 5 kg of organic fertilizers (compost, humus) per 1 square meter. m.
5. Apply 50 g of mineral fertilizers per 1 sq.m. or fertilize with ready-made complexes according to the instructions.

If the plants were sick last year, it is necessary to spill the soil with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.

After other nightshade crops, peppers cannot be planted in the same place for another 3-4 years.

Seeds treated in a fungicide solution are sown in common or separate containers. The soil should be clean, nutritious, enriched with peat, fertilizers and ash, as well as loose and with the addition of drainage - sand or sawdust.

Water the crops and keep them warm. Cover with film. After germination, remove it and move the seedlings to the windowsill. Light with phytolamps when there is a lack of daylight for up to 12-16 hours a day.

At the stage of development of the first leaves, seedlings dive.

For 1 sq. m plant 3-4 bushes.