Characteristics of the "Gift of Moldova" pepper, the pros and cons of the variety

The pepper variety "Gift of Moldova" has been popular among gardeners for almost half a century. Despite the abundance of modern hybrids, it remains in demand due to the large number of positive characteristics.

"Gift of Moldova" is easy to care for, versatile in preparation, unpretentious to environmental conditions and is able to grow in almost any climate. It is genetically resistant to many types of cultural diseases. We will talk about the main features of this variety, its pros and cons, as well as the peculiarities of cultivation further.

The “Gift of Moldova” was received in 1969 at the Moldovan Research Institute of Irrigated Agriculture and Vegetable Growing. Already in 1973, "Gift of Moldova" was successfully included in the register of varieties admitted for sale and cultivation, and quickly spread throughout the territory of the Soviet Union.

It is noteworthy that the people called this variety "bell pepper", although it has nothing to do with Bulgaria.

Why is the variety interesting?

Unlike many other peppers, "Gift of Moldova" has the following advantages:

• It does not need special attention from the gardeners cultivating it, which makes it suitable for industrial cultivation.
• It tolerates sudden changes in weather.
• It belongs to the type of determinant, which means that it reaches a certain height and stops growing. Its growth does not need to be artificially restrained by cutting the crown off.
• It has a strong, well-developed root system and an elastic stem, thanks to which it can withstand the weight of the fruit and does not need a garter.
• "Independent", that is, it does not require artificial formation of a bush by cutting leaves.

Description of the variety

The main characteristics of the "Gift of Moldova" pepper variety can be presented in the form of a table:

Bushes of this plant:

• low, reach 40-50 centimeters;
• compact, up to 30-40 centimeters in diameter;
• have a dense, elastic stem that can withstand the weight of the fruit;
• have sparse foliage of bright green color and medium size;
• differ in short internodes, which is why many ovaries are formed.

Pepper fruits "Gift of Moldova":

• hanging, conical;
• reach a length of 12 centimeters;
• weigh on average from 90 to 110 grams;
• have sweet, juicy, crispy flesh;
• covered with a thin but dense skin;
• have fairly thick walls - on average from 4 to 6 millimeters;
• in a state of technical maturity they are green, suitable for human consumption;
• on reaching botanical maturity, they turn dark red, with the juice of the same color.

Pros and cons of the variety

Due to the fact that the variety "Gift of Moldova" has been cultivated for almost 50 years and is widespread throughout the post-Soviet space, modern gardeners have information about all its advantages and disadvantages.

The pluses include:

• Ease of cultivation, undemanding and unpretentious care. The variety is "plastic" and quickly adapts to different climatic conditions, so it can be grown even in cold regions.
• Compactness. Due to the fact that the foliage is not too spreading, peppers of this variety can be planted quite close to each other. This allows you to get more crops from a smaller area.
• High percentage of crops germination, productivity. About 80% of the seeds hatch. 6-9 fruits are removed from each bush.
• Profitability. "Gift of Moldova" is a variety, not a hybrid, which allows each year to plant new bushes from the seeds of peppers grown with their own hands.
• Transportability. Peppers grow very resilient and tolerate long-distance transportation, keeping their "presentation".
• Taste qualities. Peppers of this variety are very juicy and sweet, the flesh is crispy.
• Versatility. "Gift of Moldova" is equally well suited both for eating raw and for preparing second courses. In addition, it can be preserved: lecho, winter salads, spices are made from the fruits of this variety.

The disadvantages are:

• instability to temperature fluctuations;
• the fruits of this variety are rather thin-walled in comparison with some modern hybrids;
• if the rules of care are not followed, a bitterness may appear in the taste, and the fruits themselves will become small.

Growing features

The "Gift of Moldova" variety is suitable for cultivation both in the open field and in greenhouse conditions. You can even grow it on the balcony: the bush will need a container with a volume of only 5 liters.

In this case, the following nuances should be taken into account:

• If you plan to grow peppers in a greenhouse or on a balcony, you need to sow seeds in February.
• For planting peppers in open ground, seeds are sown at the end of March.

Almost in all of Russia, the Gift of Moldova pepper is cultivated through seedlings, and only in the southernmost regions can they sow seeds directly into the ground.

In order for the bushes to grow healthy and bear fruit well, you need:

• Planting seedlings in peat pots or tablets, as peppers do not tolerate a pick poorly and can sprout weak.
• Choose for planting land where eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes have not grown in the past few years. All nightshades for pepper are bad neighbors. It is better to plant it "Gift of Moldova" after any spicy herbs, onions, all types of cabbage, radishes, carrots and zucchini.
• Plant plants in high beds so that the root system always has enough loose soil, and the earth itself is sufficiently saturated with oxygen.
• Since pepper flowers are pollinated by insects, they should be attracted during the flowering period. For this, the bushes are sprayed with a sweet solution. Also, during this period, it is forbidden to treat plants with pesticides, even if pests are introduced (this will scare off bees).

Reviews of gardeners

Judging by the reviews of gardeners, the "Gift of Moldova" pepper variety is very popular, as it is time-tested. It is resistant to many environmental factors, so with proper care, the result is likely to correspond to the advertising description of the variety - planting will give a stable volumetric yield.

Agronomists note that in a rainy summer the pepper can get sick, but fungicide treatment will help fix the problem.In general, the variety is very successful in culinary terms, since the fruits are even, beautiful and the same.

Pepper variety "Gift of Moldova" has been loved by more than one generation of gardeners for its taste and unassuming requirements. You can grow it without even having the appropriate experience. The main thing is to follow the simple rules of care, ensure regular watering and feeding, and remove ripe fruits on time.