How to properly grow Hercules pepper on your site?

Gardeners grow sweet peppers practically throughout Russia. Many of them choose large-fruited varieties - for example, Hercules pepper. It is well adapted to the climatic conditions of Central Russia and has characteristics that are appreciated by vegetable growers. Consider the description and agricultural technology of this variety.

Pepper variety Hercules was bred in 2006. This is a domestic variety obtained by the employees of Agrofirma Poisk LLC. A year later, the variety was registered in the State Register of the Russian Federation. Recommended for growing in private farms under a film and in ordinary open beds. The fruits are intended to be eaten fresh, used in cooking and canning.

Features of the variety

The Hercules pepper combines many valuable characteristics. He has compact, fairly low bushes - they can be placed tightly on the garden bed, they are easy to care for. The fruits are large, of standard shape, have a good presentation, so this pepper can be grown not only for yourself, but also for sale. It is noted that plants of this variety perfectly set fruit even in cold weather.

Description of the variety

Advantages and disadvantages

Gardeners who have already grown this variety of pepper note that its main advantage is the characteristics of the fruit - they are large, thick-walled, juicy and sweet. They can be used for preparing various dishes and in homemade preparations, for example, marinating with other vegetables. Agrotechnics of pepper is also not difficult, both an experienced gardener and a summer resident who does not have much practical experience can grow it.

There is only one drawback, if you can call it that, Hercules pepper - the size of the fruit, which does not allow them to be preserved in jars.

Features of agricultural technology

Not all garden crops are equally well suited for peppers as a precursor. This vegetable is recommended to be planted after beets, carrots, cabbage, pumpkin and legumes (excluding beans) crops. Solanaceous, that is, tomatoes and eggplants, are not suitable. It is advisable not to place peppers next to cucumbers.

Hercules peppers are grown through seedlings.These plants do not like picking, they take root for a long time after it, so the seeds are sown not in boxes, but immediately in separate 0.2-liter cups or in cassettes with large cells. It is better to use the substrate ready-made (universal is suitable for growing vegetable seedlings), and not prepared independently. In the store soil, all the components are well selected, it is loose, it contains all the nutrients necessary for plants, in the right amount.

Sowing seeds for seedlings starts at the end of February or at the very beginning of March. If they were purchased in a store and treated with special protective substances, then no pre-sowing treatment is carried out. If they are not processed or collected from their bushes, then before sowing, they must be disinfected in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate. For better germination, the seeds are soaked and germinated. 1-2 pieces are sown in each cup, the seeding depth is 0.5-1 cm.

The temperature required for seed germination should be at least 23-25 ​​° С, after germination - no more than 20 ° С. Watering is moderate, feeding at intervals of 1.5 weeks. Additional lighting with phytolamps is required at the beginning of growing seedlings - up to 10-12 hours a day. Pepper is hardened 1.5 weeks before planting in the ground if it is grown in open beds. Plants that will grow in the greenhouse do not need hardening.

Seedlings are planted in the beds when the weather is warm and it will not be threatened by frost. The pepper should be approximately 8-10 weeks old at this point. Planting pattern - 0.4 m in rows and 0.4-0.6 m row spacing. Such an area for plants of this variety is quite enough for normal development. The seedlings are buried in the holes along the root collar. To reduce the number of watering, loosening and weeding, it is advisable to mulch the soil around the peppers with plant material or agrofibre.

Pepper Hercules is picky about soil moisture, so it must be constantly watered with warm water, preferably in the evening or in the morning. Loosening is carried out after each watering. Top dressing is required, large fruits will not grow without fertilizers. Organic or complex mineral mixtures are used (solution concentration - according to the instructions). The number of dressings is at least 3 times per season: before and after mass flowering, as well as during the period of ovary growth. The collection of fruits of technical or biological ripeness is carried out at the end of July - September.

Pepper of the Hercules variety has been marked in the State Register since 2007, and during this time many vegetable growers managed to grow it on their plots. Their opinion of him is mostly positive. Gardeners note that standard care is enough for Hercules pepper, while the harvest is always stable and of high quality. Subject to the rules of agricultural technology, the plants do not get sick, they grow powerful, they perfectly tie juicy and tasty fruits.

Hercules pepper is a good choice for those gardeners who prefer large-fruited varieties. It can be cultivated all over Russia, in greenhouses or in the beds according to the standard technology of growing this crop.