Sweet bell pepper with a cute name Winnie the Pooh is very popular among summer residents. The view fell in love with its amazing taste, unpretentiousness and rich harvests. Read more about the qualities of this universal variety, as well as about the features of its cultivation, read in this article.
Variety selection and description
Winnie the Pooh Pepper is an invention of Moldovan breeders. A hybrid variety was created under the guidance of a grower from Moldova, Panchev Yu. I., and in 1980 was officially registered. Specialists managed to develop this species by crossing such sweet varieties as Bouquet-3 and Swallow. The pepper in question is included in the group of early ripe varieties. From the moment the first seedlings appear, and until the fruits of technical ripeness are formed, approximately 105–111 days elapse.
Did you know? The hottest pepper known today is Habanero pepper.
Cultivated by seedling method. It is successfully cultivated both in the greenhouse and in the open garden. Depending on the type of soil, climate and the implementation of planting care measures, the yield per 1 m² is 1.5–5 kg. The plant is stunted, compact, up to 25-30 cm long. The plant has a standard shape, shoots are leaning leanly against the trunk, middle leafy. The shape of the pepper resembles a sharp cone. The length of one fruit does not exceed 10 cm, and the mass varies between 45-60 g.
Despite the size, the walls of the vegetable are rather fleshy - 5–8 mm. In the process of ripening, the fruit changes color: in the phase of technical maturity, the peppers are light green, while fully ripened samples acquire an intense red tone. The taste of Winnie the Pooh is sweet. The variety is suitable for fresh consumption, it can be used in cooking, and the dense structure allows you to prepare high-quality preservation from it.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Here are the many advantages of the variety:
- early ripening;
- increased fertility;
- yield of the crop in several stages;
- compact bushes - with dense planting, plants even bear fruit better (suitable for greenhouses of the smallest sizes);
- no need for tying;
- excellent taste characteristics and versatility of the use of fruits;
- high commercial quality (the fruit has a rich color and fleshy juicy pulp);
- the fruits tolerate transportation well;
- long shelf life of peppers;
- excellent germination of seeds;
- unpretentiousness to climatic conditions;
- high resistance to many ailments and parasites, especially verticillin wilt and aphid damage.
- The disadvantages of the variety:
- small fruits;
- when grown in an open area, the growing season increases to 120–130 days.
How to grow seedlings on your own
According to most professional gardeners and ordinary amateurs, growing seedlings of Winnie the Pooh is quite simple.
Did you know? Bell pepper is actually not from Bulgaria. His homeland — America. At first, the culture was brought to Portugal, then to Turkey, and only then it came to Bulgaria.
The timing
The optimal time for sowing seeds for seedlings is the end of February. In extreme cases, sowing work can be carried out in early spring.
Soil and container for growing
You can use ready-made soil mixtures. When preparing the soil yourself, mix the following elements:
- 2 parts of sod or sheet soil;
- 2 parts of peat;
- 1 part humus;
- 1 part coarse sand.
Before sowing, the soil mixture must undergo a disinfection procedure. Treat it with potassium permanganate diluted in water (1-2%), after which additional treatment with a biological preparation (Trichodermin or Planriz) is recommended. If the soil was taken from the garden, pour it with a fungicide solution (for example, Fitosporin).
Important! To protect the seedling from being infected with a black leg, sprinkle a layer of fine, calcined sand around the shoot.
Since young bushes of Winnie the Pooh during transplantation are experiencing great stress, it is better to sow the seeds immediately in different containers. Their recommended volume is 350-400 ml. Plastic cups are ideal. Make several holes in the bottom to drain excess fluid - they will provide the young root system with comfortable conditions.
Seed selection and preparation
When buying seeds, study the packaging, which must certainly indicate in which climatic environment you can grow pepper, the time of ripening of seeds and the rules for sowing. Pay attention to the manufacturer, preferring a well-known company. For preventive purposes, the seeds must be decontaminated before sowing. Use a pink solution of potassium permanganate for this.
Keep the seed in this solution for 15–30 minutes, then rinse it in warm water. Soak the pure seed additionally in a growth stimulator (in wood ash or organic fertilizer "Effekton"). Seeds are sown dry or previously sprouted. They should be germinated in a damp cloth folded into several layers.
Sowing seeds
Consider the pros and cons of sowing seeds of Winnie the Pooh with picking and without picking, and also get acquainted with the sowing scheme in each of these cases.
Important! The soil on the site should not be oversaturated with nitrogen. An excess of this element leads to fatliquoring of the plant and a decrease in fruitfulness.
With pick
The advantage of this method is that the transplant is carried out by a whole earthen lump. It becomes possible not to injure the rhizome of the plant. Start picking as soon as two real leaflets appear. The optimum temperature indicator is +22 ... + 25 ° С, at night the temperature is lowered to +15 ... + 18 ° С. Plant the seed in rows in flat containers, observing a distance between the seeds of 5 cm.
Cover with a film or glass from above and transfer to a warm place. After 7-10 days, when the first sprouts appear, remove the film, and transfer the seedlings to the hallowed room. In separate containers, plant one shoot at a time, without deepening, at the same level. As you grow, transfer seedlings to larger containers.
Without pick
In this case, the seeds are immediately sown in separate containers (preferably in peat glasses). You need to plant two copies, then the more underdeveloped should be removed. Do not let the soil dry out; it should remain a little moist. Every 10 days, to strengthen immunity and accelerate the growth of seedlings, conduct treatment with a biological stimulator "Epin-Extra", diluted in water according to the instructions.
Seedling Care
Organize ideal conditions in which seedlings will grow safely:
- so that the moisture does not evaporate quickly, and the roots are not cooled, place the seedlings in a warm room without drafts;
- air temperature - +15 ... + 22 ° C;
- Combine natural light with artificial light;
- carry out moderate periodic irrigation (as the soil dries, and always warm water);
- 2 weeks after 2-3 leaves appear, feed the seedlings - for 10 l of water, use about 0.5 tsp of urea and 2.5 ml of potassium humate.
Seedling hardening
Before planting seedlings in a summer cottage, conduct its hardening. Proceed to the event two weeks before planting. Take containers with seedlings to the street. At first, leave them no longer than 3-4 minutes. Gradually, the time the plants are on the street increases.
Important! The use of cold water from wells for irrigation Winnie the Pooh is unacceptable. This is fraught with decay of the root system, fungal ailments and even the death of bushes.
How and when to plant seedlings in a permanent place
Compliance with the timing and technology of planting seedlings of Winnie the Pooh is one of the main conditions for obtaining productive adult bushes.
The timing
By the time of planting in the garden, young bushes should grow stronger, reach the age of 50-60 days, a height of 25 cm, and have at least 8-10 leaves. The soil should warm up enough, and the danger of night frost should recede. This period falls on the end of May - the beginning of June. For normal development, the temperature of the earth at the depth of landing should be no lower than +10 ... + 12 ° С. Choose a cloudy day or evening time, so that the young bushes have time to adapt a little to a new place before the sun appears.
Site selection
For Winnie the Pooh, loose loamy or sandy loamy fertile soil is suitable, but always without an excess of nitrogen. Suitable acidity for cultivating pepper is around 6.4 pH. The landing site must be absolutely sunny and at the same time reliably protected from winds and drafts. It is worth making sure that groundwater or a large body of water do not lie nearby. With a high occurrence of groundwater, raise the bed above the ground to a height of 30–35 cm, fencing it with boards.
So that the crop was larger, and the bushes hurt less often, observe crop rotation. Peppers should not be planted in the same place for 3-4 years. In addition, pepper is not combined with other solanaceous (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant). Never plant peppers of bitter varieties near Winnie the Pooh - because of over-pollination, sweet pepper can borrow a bitter aftertaste.
The best precursors for pepper are:
- carrot;
- early cabbage;
- legumes (except beans);
- perennial herbs.
Scheme and depth of landing
Land using the following technology:
- A day before planting young plants, well moisten and nourish the land - fill the holes with wood ash and compost.
- Form the holes at a distance of 20–25 cm from each other. Keep a distance of 30 cm between rows. Approximate furrow depth is 12-15 cm.
- Plant 1-2 bushes in each well. Burry young plants to cotyledon leaves.
- To protect tender foliage from burning out in the sun, cover plantings for the first 5–7 days with lutrasil.
How to care in the open ground
After planting, the bushes require comprehensive care. Standard pepper care includes periodic irrigation, fertilizer application, and soil care activities.
Watering
It is necessary to water pepper at least twice a week using warm water. In the summer season, water the plantings systematically, but in moderation - excessive amounts of water harm the roots. The ideal type of irrigation for the presented variety is drip.
Soil care
Peppers do not tolerate the dry surface of the earth - they can throw off inflorescences and foliage. Therefore, immediately after transplanting seedlings, mulch the beds with compost, humus or peat. In the summer, dry lawn grass can act as mulch. After each watering, carry out shallow loosening of the soil. It is also important to monitor the cleanliness of plantings and get rid of weeds in time.
Top dressing
It is recommended to add organic matter and universal mineral compounds to the soil. You need to feed plantings no more than twice a month. Fertilizers containing nitrogen can be used in early June. In the future, opt for phosphoric and potassium nutrients. In the phase of active blooming, fertilize with organic matter - add bird droppings diluted at the rate of 1 to 15, or mullein diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10.
Bushes garter
Being strong undersized and compact, the bushes of Winnie the Pooh do not need to be tied. As you can see, the characteristics of the hybrid from Moldova fully correspond to its high status, which has been maintained for many years. The main feature of the culture, most gardeners call the ability to grow it both in an open area and in a greenhouse. The bushes will please you with their unpretentiousness, high productivity and excellent taste of the fruits.
