All the features of sweet pepper "California miracle", reviews of gardeners about this variety

The California Miracle pepper has been known since 1928. It was brought from America, today it grows well in the south and in central Russia. It differs from other varieties in the sweetness of the pulp, fleshy walls, attractive appearance and the ability to tolerate transportation and long-term storage (up to 30 days fresh).

Variety history

This sweet pepper is a variety, not a hybrid derived from several varieties. It was bred about 100 years ago in South America, which is why it got its name.

In the middle of the twentieth century, the "California miracle" was also recognized in Russia thanks to one gardener who brought him home from a trip abroad. Gradually, the variety spread to different regions, fell in love with gardeners. In 1999, it was officially entered into the State Register.

What's interesting?

Peppers of this variety differ from other varieties in their high sugar content. Its skin is dense, the flesh is juicy, very sweet. Only in rare cases can it taste a little bitter if the conditions of agricultural technology are not followed. Pepper is considered the record holder for vitamin C - this vegetable contains the same amount as black currant. Moreover, it is actively used for freezing, during which it retains all the useful properties.

For Russia, the variety is optimal because it is actively grown not only in the central and middle lane, but also in the northwestern regions. Belongs to mid-season varieties, perfectly tolerates transportation. But its appearance deserves special attention - the peel at biological maturity becomes bright red, the fruits themselves are large, with ribs, round in shape, without a sharp tip. The stalks are slightly depressed into the fruit. The peel is thin, but very dense, so the fruit is almost not damaged during storage and transportation.

Despite the fact that this is not a hybrid, it is not inferior to them in appearance and taste. The bushes are sprawling, strong, have a high immunity against major pests and diseases. The fruits are very large.

Several varieties of this pepper can be found today. Seed material from different manufacturers is also produced under other names - "Miracle of California", "California Wonder" or "California Wonder".

Description of the variety

Variety information	Introduced.
Pollination type	Self-pollinated.
A type	Shtambovoy, determinant.
Type of ovary formation	Single.
Ripening rate	Mid-season, the period to full maturity, depending on the subspecies, is 115–120 days.
Cultivation area	Open / closed ground.
	Recommended for cultivation in the Central region and in the northwestern zone.
Stocking density (planting pattern)	4-6 bushes per square meter / 40 x 40 cm
Yield	Up to 10 kg from 1 square meter
Fruit type	The fruit is elongated cubic in shape, does not have a pointed tip, is divided into 4 lobes by the ribs. Fruit weight - from 90 to 140 g, but some species can reach a weight of 200–220 g. There is no pungency, the pulp is sweet, sugary. Peppery aroma, characteristic. The wall thickness is on average 0.5–0.8 cm, but it can be up to 1 cm.
Purpose of fruits	Suitable for canning, fresh consumption, adding to first courses, salads, snacks. Stored up to 1 month.
Resistant to adverse conditions	Resistant to temperature extremes, shading.
Disease resistance	Has strong immunity against verticellous wilting, tobacco mosaic virus.

On average, the height of the bush reaches 70-75 cm.The trunk is powerful, strong, can withstand up to 10–12 ripe fruits without a garter. The shoots are strong, the leaves are dark green, glossy.

Description of the variety:

• The fruits are large, cuboid-elongated, flattened at the end.
• The shade of the pepper depends on the degree of its maturity - at the very beginning, when the pepper can already be eaten, it is dark green, then it acquires an orange tint, and at biological maturity it becomes a deep red with a cherry tint.

Some subspecies of the Californian Miracle variety in technical maturity have bright orange, black-burgundy and other peel shades.

Pros and cons of the variety

The advantages of the "California Miracle":

• suitable for growing in greenhouses, greenhouses and in open beds (in the first case, it gives abundant yields and begins to bear fruit faster);
• with proper agricultural technology, it gives a consistently high yield;
• increases the intensity of fruiting with regular feeding;
• does not respond to the tobacco mosaic virus, which does not respond to treatment and can significantly reduce the volume of the crop;
• has large, beautiful juicy fruits with a pleasant taste;
• versatile in cooking - suitable for canning, fresh consumption in salads and snacks, to be added to almost any dish;
• seed material can be harvested from your own crop, while it retains all the varietal characteristics of the parent specimen, and also has a good degree of germination.

The disadvantages of the variety include the following factors:

• does not bear fruit well, grows slowly and develops on depleted soil, therefore, its optimization is necessary before planting;
• when grown in northern latitudes, it is necessary to organize a protective coating;
• in the absence of top dressing, not only the amount of the crop decreases, but also the taste parameters of the fruits - they become drier, sourish or may taste bitter;
• the fruits are very large, in some specimens they reach 250 g, therefore they are not suitable for all dishes without exception (for example, they are not canned as a whole, they are rarely used for stuffing).

Many of these drawbacks are absent in the varieties of "California Miracle" pepper, which have recently been selected - varieties "Chocolate Miracle", black, orange, yellow subspecies.

The largest fruits, weighing up to 250 g, are distinguished by the variety "California miracle black", the wall thickness reaches 1 cm. The smallest fruits in the variety "California miracle orange" - one pepper weighs an average of 80-100 g, while the wall thickness is only 5 mm.

Growing features

In general, the variety is unpretentious, but when growing and further care, a number of rules must be observed:

1. At the initial stage in the process of germinating seeds, they must be etched. Instead of germination, you can use bubbling (this is the treatment of planting material in oxygenated water).
2. Young seedlings and strong seedlings do not tolerate an increase in temperature above 25 degrees, and at night - a decrease to 16 degrees or more. Adequate lighting is required, but direct rays of the sun can harm thin delicate leaves.
3. To make the future bush lower and more compact, to increase productivity, the main stem is dived about about the 6th or 8th leaf. After that, the bush branches out strongly, in general, this increases the yield by almost 30%.
4. It is possible to move seedlings into the ground only when the plant reaches the age of 2 months, and the seedlings will have at least 8 leaves. The site should be sunny, protected from drafts, the soil is loose and permeable - black soil, loam and sandy loam. Pepper of this variety prefers slightly acidic soil.
5. "California Miracle" is not planted after potatoes, physalis, eggplants, other varieties of pepper and tomatoes. Legumes, pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers and onions are considered optimal predecessors.

Care for pepper seedlings also has its own characteristics:

• This variety of pepper is moisture-loving, during the dry period it can completely stop growing, buds, ovaries and leaves will begin to fall. You need to water only with warm water, at least 22 degrees. After the procedure, the soil crust is loosened.
• Be sure to use top dressing. They are brought in at least 3 times - 2 weeks after planting, in the flowering phase, then in the period when the fruits begin to pour.
• When the bush reaches a height of about 30 cm, shaping is carried out. The upper bud is removed, 2 strong shoots are left in the first and second row, all the rest are pinched. As the bush begins to branch, weak shoots must be removed at each branch. Also, all branches on which there are no fruits are subject to removal.
• The plant is self-pollinated, but in the absence of wind, the process can be delayed. To help the peppers pollinate, periodically shake the bushes or run them from the bottom up over the flowers with a wide brush, cotton swab or other soft material.
• The variety is not resistant to diseases such as black leg, Alternaria and rot. Of the pests, it is attacked by aphids, spider mites and slugs.

Description of the cultivation process in the greenhouse:

• Indoors, it is easier to comply with the temperature and humidity parameters. More frequent watering may be required as the water evaporates faster.
• In low greenhouses, a large growth of bushes should not be allowed. They are regularly pinched so that they branch more strongly, then they are tied to trellises or pegs. In the open field, shaping a bush is needed only to increase yields, but increasing the branching of a bush takes up area, therefore it is used less often.
• It is important to pick fruits both in the greenhouse and in the open field on time. They are usually removed when the skin turns dark green or begins to take on a yellowish tint. Then, as they are stored, they will ripen and turn red. If the fruits are not removed in time, they will not allow the next ovaries to form large peppers, reduce the overall yield and overload the bush, which can cause it to deform.

During harvesting, the fruits should not be plucked, but carefully cut with a knife, which will not damage the stem and branches.

Already 4 months after planting, the first fruits are harvested, but they will reach biological maturity no earlier than 130 days after planting the seedlings in the ground.

Reviews of gardeners

One of the most popular sweet pepper varieties in the country - "California Miracle" - has received many positive reviews from gardeners who actively grow it on their plots. The variety is practically devoid of disadvantages, but it has many advantages - high yield rates, the ability to tolerate transportation, good taste and ease of cultivation.

This variety of pepper does not require special care, standard techniques are enough - regular fractional watering, fertilizing, weeding, loosening the soil and, if necessary, fighting diseases and pests.

Almost all gardeners familiar with this variety note its high yield. With proper care, one bush can form up to 12 large peppers. Moreover, the fruits are always approximately equal in size, of the same shape, curved or deformed are rarely found.

"California Miracle" is suitable for different latitudes, can be grown in northern regions, with the exception of the Far North. In harsh cold conditions, it is more often grown under cover or in greenhouses, where, with proper agricultural technology, it can give an even greater yield than in an open garden.