- Authors: Maksimov S.V., Klimenko N.N., Kostenko A.N.
- Year of approval: 2007
- Bush height, cm: 60-80
- Growth type: medium-sized
- Fruit shape: cuboid
- Fruit weight, g: 150-160
- Fruit color: dark green in technical ripeness, red in biological ripeness
- Ripening terms: late
- Fruit size, cm: length 11-12, width 10-11
- Yield: high
When choosing a sweet pepper variety for cultivation, it is important to pay attention to what climate the vegetable crop is adapted to. One of the popular varieties that can grow in different regions is the Hercules pepper, bred by domestic breeders.
Breeding history
The late-ripening pepper Hercules is the result of the fruitful work of the scientists of the Poisk agricultural firm. The authorship belongs to the breeders Maksimov S.V., Klimenko N.N. and Kostenko A.N. You can grow a vegetable both in the garden and in the greenhouse. Cucumbers grow productively in different regions of Russia - from the southern part to the middle zone.
Description of the variety
Hercules is a fairly compact, medium-sized semi-sprawling bush that grows up to 80 cm in height in a favorable environment. The plant is characterized by moderate foliage, dark green leaves with a slightly wrinkled surface, medium branching and a developed root system. On average, 8 to 12 lined peppers ripen on each healthy bush.
Characteristics of the appearance of plants and fruits
Late pepper is endowed with an attractive presentation. The variety belongs to the class of large-fruited crops. The average weight of ripe pepper is 150-160 grams, with a length of 11-12 and a width of 10-11 cm. Sometimes peppers gain weight up to 200-250 g. The shape of the vegetable is cuboid, neat.
At the stage of technical maturity, the fruit has a dark green color, and the ripened vegetable is evenly covered with a bright red cover. The peel of the pepper is quite dense (about 6.8 mm), smooth, sometimes slightly ribbed, with a pronounced gloss on the surface.
The harvested crop is transportable even over long distances. In addition, ripe vegetables have a long shelf life if they are provided with the appropriate conditions - in the refrigerator at a temperature of + 5-7 degrees. Peppers practically cannot be stored without a refrigerator, since they are prone to wilting.
Purpose and taste
Pepper Hercules stands out among its congeners for its excellent taste. The flesh of the vegetable is quite fleshy, moderately dense and juicy. The taste is balanced - summer sweetness is perfectly combined with a pronounced peppery aroma. There are 3-4 chambers inside the fetus. Regardless of the degree of ripeness, there is no bitterness in the pulp.
A huge advantage of the hybrid is the invaluable composition of pepper pulp, which contains a huge amount of trace elements and vitamins (A, C, P, B, calcium, iodine, iron, zinc, magnesium), as well as lycomin. It is also worth noting that pepper pulp is used in cosmetology, since it improves the condition of the skin.
Many housewives are captivated by the universal purpose of the vegetable, which is eaten fresh, added to salads, various hot dishes, and used as a decor. In addition, peppers are stuffed, canned, frozen.
Ripening terms
Hercules is a late sweet pepper. The growing season lasts 120-130 days. Vegetables ripen gradually and slowly, so you can taste the first peppers only 90-100 days after mass germination. The massive harvest occurs at the end of August-September, sometimes until mid-October, if there are no sharp cold snaps.
Yield
The yield indicators for this variety are good. With standard care, the crop will certainly respond with a decent harvest.On average, 2.6-3.5 kg of juicy and aromatic peppers fall on 1 m2 of plantings.
Landing scheme
When growing a crop, it is important to observe the planting density and the distance between the plantings, which will provide the plant with good air and moisture permeability. A 40x60 cm scheme is considered to be correct for planting. It is recommended to place 3-4 bushes per 1 m2.
To get a large and tasty harvest of pepper, you need to take care of the seedlings in advance. When growing pepper seedlings, you need to correctly determine the sowing time, pre-sowing seed treatment, prepare the necessary container and soil.
Growing and care
The vegetable is grown in seedlings. To obtain seedlings, seeds are sown in March, then by the end of May the bushes will be ready for transplanting into open ground. Landing on a bed is carried out only after the soil warms up to + 10-12 degrees, the weather stabilizes, and spring return frosts will be left behind. For the early adaptation of the plant to new conditions, it is necessary to cover the bushes with foil overnight for the first few days.
Vegetable agricultural technology consists of basic activities: irrigation with settled water twice a week, fertilizing, alternating mineral and organic mixtures (several times a month), loosening the soil, which will increase the passage of moisture, nutrients and air to the root system, tying bushes to the support, which will prevent deformation and breaking off of stems, removal of weeds, mulching. In addition, do not forget about the prevention of diseases and invasions of insect pests.
To harvest a tasty and rich harvest of pepper, you need to comply with all the conditions of agricultural technology, and proper care begins with planting plants. Before planting pepper in open ground, it should be prepared. It is also important to take care of the seedlings and planting space in advance.
Soil requirements
Vegetable crops are quite demanding on the structure and composition of the soil. Peppers grow and develop in loose, nutritious, breathable and moist soils with neutral acidity. It is best if this one is sandy loam, chernozems or loamy soils. It should also be borne in mind that the vegetable does not develop in wetlands, therefore, the occurrence of groundwater must be deep.
For good growth of pepper bushes and active fruiting, you need to regularly apply mineral and organic fertilizing to the soil. It is necessary not only to choose the right formulations, but also to use them at the right stage in the development of culture.The frequency of top dressing is always individual. It depends directly on the composition of the land on your site. The poorer the soil composition, the more often you will need to feed the pepper.
Required climatic conditions
Pepper Hercules is a thermophilic crop that is recommended to be planted in an area where there is a lot of sunlight, light, good air circulation, and there is also protection from cold winds and drafts.
Disease and pest resistance
Hercules is highly immune, which provides good resistance to many common diseases, for example, tobacco mosaic virus, late blight or spotting. The plant is vulnerable only to top rot, as well as to attacks by whiteflies, aphids and fleas.
Pepper is one of the most common vegetables in home gardens. This culture is quite stable and unpretentious. However, under certain conditions, this plant can suffer from infections and harmful insects. Before treating peppers for diseases or pests, you need to find out the cause of the problem, otherwise the treatment may be ineffective.