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Hot pepper has many names, someone calls it "chili", someone likes the name "hot". To date, more than three thousand varieties of hot pepper are known, they all have their own characteristics. there is red peppers, green, yellow, orange, purple and even chocolate ones. The shape of the peppers and their sizes also differ. But the main distinguishing feature is the pungency or pungency of the fruit, its value is measured on the Scoville scale - the higher the SHU value indicated on the package with the seeds, the more "evil" pepper will grow out of them.
In this article, we will consider the most famous hot pepper varieties, we will get acquainted with its characteristics and growing conditions.
How to grow hot peppers at home
Chilli good because it can be planted not only in a greenhouse or in a garden bed, very often this culture is planted in pots, which decorate window sills or balconies.
Hot peppers came to Europe from tropical America and India. On these continents with a humid and hot climate, the culture is considered perennial - chili peppers can grow and bear fruit there all year round.
In the domestic climate, a heat-loving culture will have to be planted every season. Due to the long growing season (90 to 130 days), the plants grown in seedlings:
- the seeds are pre-soaked and left in a warm place for pecking;
- seeds are planted in prepared loose soil;
- the pots are placed in a warm place, where there are no drafts and temperature drops;
- 1-1.5 months after sowing, the seedlings can be transferred to a permanent place (in a greenhouse or on the ground).
What are hot peppers
Many people mistakenly believe that hot peppers must be red. Chili peppers can be colored in absolutely any shade. The same applies to the shape and size of the fruit. There are fruits, the length of which reaches 30 cm, and there are very small peppers, the size of which does not exceed a couple of centimeters.
In the tropics or India, peppers grow with a pronounced fruity or citrus aroma and a pleasant taste. These fruits are used to make excellent sauces, seasonings, and exotic dishes.
The whole world classifies hot peppers into several main categories.:
- Chinese are considered the most burning.
- Mexican habanero are the most popular.
- Trinidad differ in taste, are used for making sauces and adjik.
- 7 Pot grouped based on the unusual shape and pronounced fruit flavor.
- Jalapeno loves warmth more than other species, therefore it is grown in greenhouses and greenhouses. These are the varieties that are grown on the windowsills city apartments.
- Cayenne peppers are easy to recognize by their pungency and elongated shape, the bushes of these varieties are low and compact.
- Bush varieties, to which the famous "Tabasco" belongs, are less popular, but they also have their fans.
"Double abundance"
This variety can be planted in open ground, but in greenhouse conditions, the yield will be higher - up to 40 fruits can be removed from each bush. Peppers do not ripen right away, harvesting is obtained up to five times per season.
Fruit shape is proboscis, elongated. The length of each is about 20 cm, the average weight is 70 grams. When ripe, the pepper is colored red.
The walls of the peppers are thick enough, so it is not suitable for drying, but from the "Double Abundance" excellent blanks are obtained in jars, the fruits can also be frozen.
The plant endures strong summer heat, is not afraid of diseases and viruses.
"Burning bouquet"
This pepper can be grown both in the greenhouse and in the garden. Bushes grow small - up to 50 cm in height, not spreading. The branches of plants do not need to be tied up, since the fruits of this variety are quite light.
The mass of one pod is only 15-20 grams, and the length is up to 12 cm. The shape of the fruit is cone-shaped, strongly elongated, the peppers have a small diameter. At the stage of biological maturity, the fruits acquire a scarlet color.
The walls of the fruit are thin and are great for drying and other uses. The pepper tastes good, with a special aroma paprika.
"Chinese fire"
This variety belongs to the hottest peppers. The bushes reach a height of 65 cm, they can be grown both in greenhouses and in open areas.
The peppers themselves are not very large - each weighs only 70 grams, but the long ones are about 25 cm. When the fruit ripens, it becomes a deep red color. The shape of the pepper is a cone, but with a slightly curved bottom.
The culture belongs to the early maturing - the fruits can be harvested 90 days after germination. Plants are resistant to viruses and diseases that are characteristic of the nightshade family.
"Trinidad Small Cherry"
The culture is considered super early - peppers can be eaten within 70 days after the seeds hatch. Bushes grow powerful and spreading, their height often exceeds 0.8 meters.
By their appearance, the fruits resemble cherries - they have the same round shape and a small diameter - about 2 cm. The taste of peppers is also saturated with cherry notes. Each bush grows a variety of bright orange or scarlet peppers.
"Indian elephant"
These peppers are mildly pungent, have a rich paprika aroma and a pleasant taste. The bushes are considered tall - their height often exceeds 130 cm, the branches are spreading. Plants need to be tied up and are best grown in a greenhouse.
The shape of the fruit is proboscis, the peppers are slightly drooping. At the stage of maturity, the fruits are colored bright red, divided into two chambers with testes. The walls are about 1.5 mm thick, and each pepper weighs about 30 grams.
If you grow the Indian Elephant variety in a greenhouse, you can get up to two kilograms of harvest from every meter of land.
Taste characteristics allow using this variety as a seasoning, an ingredient for any dish or sauce.
"Miracle of the Moscow Region"
A very productive variety, giving up to four kilograms of peppers per square meter. Bushes grow tall, with powerful lateral shoots and few leaves.
The fruits themselves are in the shape of a cone, are located drooping, their surface is smooth and shiny. The length of the fruit can be up to 25 cm, and the diameter is small - about 3 cm.
The weight of each pod rarely exceeds 50 grams. The walls are quite thick - up to 2 mm. This variety has an unusual specific taste, a little pungency.
With proper care and timely watering, up to 20 peppercorns can ripen on one bush.
Jalapeno
The representative of one of the main types of hot pepper is the Mexican variety "Jalapeno".The bushes of this plant are very tall - they reach one meter. The shoots are powerful and spreading. Up to 40 fruits can ripen simultaneously on one plant.
The peppers themselves are small - their length is no more than 10 cm. The shape of the fruit is barrel-shaped, slightly elongated. At first, the peppercorns are colored dark green, but as they ripen, they turn bright red.
"Habanero"
There are several varieties of this variety: there are peppers of red, yellow, orange, pink and chocolate shades. A distinctive feature of the variety is crumpled fruits. Their shape is a cone.
Peppers grow small - the weight of one will be only 15 grams. But on each plant, up to hundreds of fruits can ripen at the same time.
The taste of the fruits of this variety is also very unusual - they have strongly pronounced fruity notes mixed with strong pungency and pungency.
"Astrakhansky 147"
This variety is considered mid-season and high-yielding. It is quite possible to grow it outdoors, but in the northern regions of the country it is still better to use film or agrofibre.
The fruits do not ripen at the same time, which provides the farmer with a regular harvest of fresh peppers. The height of the bush is small (up to 50 cm), the plants are not spreading, half-stemmed. With proper care, up to 3.5 kg of burning fruits can be harvested from one meter of land planted with this variety.
The shape of the peppercorns is a cone. The location is drooping, the color is green at first, gradually turning into scarlet.
The surface of the fruit is smooth and shiny, the walls are thin. The weight of each pod is only 10 grams, and the length is 6 cm. Therefore, the variety can be used for harvesting hot peppers for future use - dried and ground into powder.
Cayenne Red
Plants of this variety are very tall - more than 150 cm. They must be tied up, so it is better to grow them in a closed greenhouse.
Each bush is "decorated" with many pods - up to 40 peppercorns can ripen on one plant. The shape of the fruit is an elongated cone. Their length reaches 12 cm, but their diameter is very small - about 1.5 cm.
The surface of the fruit is glossy, at first green, after biological maturation - deep red. The taste of the fruit is moderately spicy.
Which varieties are more suitable for the domestic climate
Almost all varieties of hot peppers can be planted outdoors. Exceptions are exotic species, foreign-bred hybrids and tall peppers, which must be tied up.
Information on how to grow the crop is easy to find on the seed bag, and the severity of the pods (SHU) is also indicated there. It is necessary to eat hot peppers with extreme caution: in small doses, this vegetable is very useful for the human body, but excessive consumption of spicy fruits can lead to various diseases and pathologies.
