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It's no secret that Dutch vegetable hybrids are especially appreciated by summer residents and gardeners from all over the world. Bell peppers are no exception. For example, a hybrid called Gemini F1 is famous for its high yield, disease resistance and unpretentiousness to weather conditions. From English "Gemini" is translated as "twins". This is most likely due to the appearance of the ripe peppers: they all have the same shape, size and color. The Dutch variety is appreciated not only by private gardeners, but also by farmers who grow vegetables on an industrial scale.
Feature and Description Dutch variety, photos and reviews of F1 Gemini pepper can be found in this article. It will tell you about all the advantages of a hybrid, as well as how it needs to be grown correctly.
Features of the variety
Gemini pepper F1 is very recognizable: the fruits of this variety are colored in a rich, canary yellow hue. Gardeners love Gemini for its high yield and excellent taste; farmers appreciate the unpretentiousness of the variety and the excellent presentation of the fruit.
The Gemini pepper variety has the following characteristics:
- fast ripening - the growing season from sowing seeds to the technical maturity of fruits is 75-82 days;
- the average size of the bush: the plant is compact, medium leafy, spreading;
- the height of Gemini bushes is usually within 60 cm;
- the leaves on the bushes are large, wrinkled, dark green (a large number of leaves and their large size protect the fruits from the scorching sun);
- the shape of the peppers is cuboid-elongated, drooping;
- about 7-10 fruits are formed on each bush;
- fruits are four-chambered, thick-walled (wall thickness, on average, is 0.8 cm);
- in a state of technical ripeness, the pepper is colored in a dark green hue, the bright yellow color of the fruit indicates biological ripeness;
- the staining speed is average;
- fruit length and diameter are approximately equal - about 18 cm;
- the average weight of peppers depends on the cultivation method: on the ground - 230 grams, in the greenhouse - 330 grams;
- the taste of the Gemini F1 variety is excellent, moderately sweet with a barely noticeable bitterness - the real taste of bell pepper;
- the skin on the fruit is thin and the flesh is very tender;
- the culture is resistant to the sun, the fruits are practically not baked, they rarely get burns;
- the variety has good immunity to viral diseases, including the potato virus;
- the purpose of Gemini pepper is universal - it can be planted both in open ground and in a greenhouse, greenhouse or under a film;
- the purpose of the fruits is also universal: they are good fresh, in various salads, appetizers, hot dishes and preservation;
- Gemini's yield is high - about 350 centners per hectare, which is comparable to the indicator of the yield standard, Gift of Moldova;
- the hybrid is unpretentious to climatic and weather conditions, it can be grown even in cold regions with cool and short summers;
- the fruits ripen amicably, it is easy to collect them, since the peppers are well separated from the stalk;
- Gemini's presentation and keeping quality are excellent, so the hybrid is perfect for growing for sale.
Advantages and disadvantages
The description of Gemini pepper would be incomplete without mentioning the strengths and weaknesses of this hybrid. Reviews of gardeners indicate that Gemini F1 has the following advantages:
- early and simultaneous ripening of all fruits;
- beautiful appearance of peppers;
- large fruit sizes;
- excellent taste characteristics, including crunchiness and juiciness of the pulp;
- compact size of the bushes, allowing you to grow peppers in small greenhouses or under film shelters;
- good yield indicators;
- unpretentiousness to the climate;
- resistance to viral diseases;
- universal purpose of fruits.
Much to the chagrin of gardeners, the perfect pepper does not yet exist in nature. Gemini, like all other varieties and hybrids, has its drawbacks:
- slow coloring of fruits - which leads to the loss of a certain percentage of peppers;
- a strong dependence of the hybrid on top dressing - with a lack of fertilizers, the walls of the pepper become much thinner;
- Gemini shoots are quite fragile, so the bushes often break off under the weight of large fruits - they need to be tied up;
- the color of the fruits is often uneven, which affects their marketability.
Growing rules
It is not difficult to grow a Dutch hybrid, because it is very unpretentious and resistant to external factors. The gardener should remember about the hybrid origin of Gemini: the seeds of this pepper do not retain full information about the genes - the fruits will mutate, change color, size or shape. Therefore, planting material will have to be purchased annually.
Landing
In the southern regions, seeds of Gemini F1 begin to be sown in the second half of February. In colder areas, the vegetable is sown for seedlings a little later - in the first decade of March. If you need early seedlings for a heated greenhouse or greenhouse, you need to sow pepper already in January.
It is better to sow seeds in plastic glasses with a capacity of 200 ml or in special peat tablets, so that later the seedlings do not have to dive - pepper does not tolerate this procedure well.
Gemini sweet peppers love warmth and light. For the first 12-14 days, containers with seeds should be at a temperature of 24-27 degrees. During this time, the first shoots will appear, then the pepper seedlings can be removed to a cooler, but brighter place.
When the pepper is 40-50 days old, it is planted in a permanent place. Depending on where Gemini will be grown, the recommended planting dates also change: the seedlings are transferred to the greenhouse in mid-May, and sweet peppers can be planted in open ground not earlier than the first days of June.
The height of pepper seedlings by the time of transplantation should be 16-17 cm, on each bush there should already be 5-6 true leaves. The presence of flower ovaries is acceptable. But it is not recommended to overexpose bell pepper seedlings. At 65-70 days of age, Gemini is planted only in heated greenhouses, they do this in mid-spring.
Planting Gemini pepper in a permanent place is carried out according to the following rules:
- Choose a site on level ground or on a small hill.
- It is good if there is protection from strong winds and drafts.
- Soils are preferable nutritious, loose, calcareous.
- The best precursors for bell peppers are cabbage, legumes, and grains.
- The planting pattern for small volumes is three bushes per square meter.
- Gemini shows the best yield with this scheme - 50x40 cm.
- The soil on the site or in the greenhouse should warm up to at least +15 degrees.
- It is recommended to fill the planting holes with a nutritious soil mixture with an admixture of organic matter or mineral fertilizers.
- Immediately after planting, pepper seedlings are watered, and the soil around the root collar is mulched. Mulch will protect the roots from overheating and hypothermia, and will help retain moisture.
Care
The yield of Gemini pepper declared by the originator of the variety in practice can vary greatly. This indicator largely depends on the nutritional value of the soil, the quantity and quality of fertilizing. Bell peppers will not grow on their own; this crop needs care.
You need to look after Gemini F1 like this:
- Cover the soil with mulch or constantly loosen, remove weeds, monitor the moisture content.
- Use a drip irrigation system or water the bushes by hand, avoiding cracking of the soil and exposing the roots.
- Tear off the first "royal" buds.
- Form pepper seedlings into one or two stems, removing unnecessary stepchildren.
- In greenhouses, it is better to break off the central ovaries in order to prevent the fruits from becoming smaller.
- Tie up the bushes when the fruit begins to fill and grow in size.
- If necessary, normalize the number of fruits, leaving no more than ten pieces on each plant.
- Feeding Gemini peppers is a must. Since autumn, the land is filled with organic matter, and in the summer this hybrid is fed only with mineral fertilizers. There should be at least three top dressing: the first time a week after planting, the second - in the flowering phase, the third top dressing is carried out when the fruits begin to change color.
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Conclusion
Reviews of gardeners and farmers about Gemini pepper are contradictory. Most farmers note the large-fruited sweet vegetable and its good taste. The variety is valued for its unpretentiousness and resistance to viral diseases, but it needs good care and frequent fertilizing with mineral components.
With proper care, the hybrid will delight you with high yields and uniform fruit color. Gemini's commercial qualities are at their best!