Hybrid pepper varieties have long occupied a special place in the beds of our country. Derived from two common varieties, they have increased yields and resistance to many diseases. So that the harvest of this culture can not only please, but also pleasantly surprise the gardener, it is recommended to choose varieties according to the local climate. Bred in the Rostov region in the city of Shakhty by the breeder Yuri Ivanovich Panchev, the variety was registered in 1981.
Characteristics of the variety
Winnie the Pooh pepper belongs to the early maturing varieties. It will take about 100 days from its first shoots to the fruits of technical maturity. The Winnie the Pooh pepper variety has compact bushes with a height of up to 25 cm. They have a standard shape and branches tightly pressed to the trunk with a small amount of foliage.
It can be successfully grown on regular and film beds.
Fruits on the bushes are formed in bunches. In their shape, they resemble a sharp cone. The color of their smooth surface changes depending on the degree of maturity from light green to red. The Winnie the Pooh pepper is rather small: its length will be about 10 cm, and its weight will not exceed 50 grams. With this size, the pepper of this variety has a rather thick pericarp pulp - about 6 mm.
The pepper tastes sweet and juicy. It is great for fresh consumption and for use in cooking. The dense pulp of Winnie the Pooh makes it also suitable for canning.
Winnie the Pooh sweet pepper has excellent resistance to many diseases, in particular to verticillary wilt and aphid infestation. The excellent taste of these peppers is perfectly combined with commercial qualities. They can be stored well and can be transported very well. The variety has a high yield, but due to the low weight of the fruit, it will not exceed 5 kg per square meter.
Growing recommendations
In order for the plants of this variety to be able to give a bountiful harvest, you need to properly prepare the seedlings. It is recommended to start in February, but before that the seeds should be checked and processed:
- 1-2 weeks before planting, the pepper seeds are placed on a damp cloth. This is done to weed out dead seeds. After 1-1.5 weeks, all seeds suitable for planting will swell and hatch.
- All swollen and hatched seeds are placed for half an hour in a light solution of potassium permanganate, and then washed with warm water.
The seeds prepared in this way are planted in prepared containers and covered with foil. After the emergence of seedlings, the film is removed so that the plants can fully develop.
Peat pots are great for this. You can also use empty milk cartons.
For normal growth of seedlings, it is necessary to provide a temperature of 20 to 24 degrees. At the same time, nighttime values should be several degrees lower than daytime ones. Watering the seedlings is carried out as the soil dries up and always with warm water. Hardening of plants gives excellent results. For this, the night temperature is brought to 11-13 degrees. This procedure will allow young peppers to not stretch out and better adapt when planted in a permanent place.
Dates for planting ready-made sweet pepper seedlings:
- Young plants can be planted in the greenhouse in late April - early May;
- On open beds, sweet peppers are planted not earlier than the beginning of June.
Further care for peppers is:
- Watering with warm water. The regularity of watering depends on the weather, but at least 2 times a week;
- Regular weeding and loosening;
- Top dressing with any mineral or organic fertilizers. Their frequency should not exceed 2 times a month.
You can learn more about caring for sweet peppers from the video:
Subject to these recommendations, the Winnie the Pooh variety can give the gardener an excellent harvest, which can be harvested until the end of September.
The fruits of the pepper are really small, so this variety is for an "amateur". But "Winnie the Pooh" is well suited for canning in glass jars.
P.S. The article does not say anything about the root system, which is very important for proper cultivation of pepper. Since "Winnie the Pooh" is planted thickened, how much soil for roots is needed for each plant in a common box (on the balcony) so that the plants do not oppress each other and give a good harvest?