Fertile Hercules pepper, disease-resistant and easy to care for
Pepper with the self-explanatory name Hercules is distinguished by its cold resistance and immunity to diseases characteristic of the culture. Appeared variety thanks to the work of domestic breeders, it is suitable for cultivation in central Russia, the Urals, and Siberia. It is universal in use and can be stored for a long time.
Our article contains a description of Hercules sweet pepper, its characteristics, features and productivity indicators.
What type of pepper is this?
Mid-season crop: you will receive the first harvest 100 days after the appearance of the first shoots. Hercules is planted in seedlings: this way it shows the best yield.
Peculiarities
The bushes are compact, reaching 50 cm in length. The foliage is dark green, the leaves are medium-sized and oblong.
The recommended planting density for Hercules is 50x40.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The fruits are cube-shaped and slightly flattened. The peel is glossy bright red. Vegetable weight - from 150 to 300 g.
The wall thickness is 8 mm, so the crop tolerates transportation well over long distances.
The pulp is sweet, crispy, juicy, and there are few seeds. The yield is stable: about 3 kg is harvested from 1 bush.
Interesting! 100 g of bell pepper contains 25 kcal. The vegetable strengthens the immune system and prevents vision problems. The fruits are rich in vitamins A, B, C, food acids, and antioxidants.
Preparation for cultivation
Preliminary procedures include disinfection of seeds, preparation of seedling soil and beds. Let's look at each stage in detail:
- Seed disinfection protects plants from diseases and pests. The grains are disinfected with aloe juice, Bordeaux mixture or succinic acid solution. Heating in the oven for 1 hour is used as disinfection: the high temperature kills pathogens on the surface of the seeds.
Germination of seed material. The grains are wrapped in damp, warm gauze and placed on the windowsill. After a few days, the first shoots appear. Germination strengthens the plant’s immunity; the stimulator “Kornevin” is added to accelerate growth.- Preparing seedling soil. It is recommended to use a mixture of soil from the garden and biosoil from the store. The soil is taken in equal parts, sand, sawdust, peat and humus are added to it. The resulting composition is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Preparation of beds begins in autumn. The best predecessors for peppers are cabbage, carrots, and legumes. The soil is dug up using a shovel handle and cleared of weeds, debris and leaves. For the winter, a solution of liquid mullein is added to the beds. From mid-March, the beds are dug up again and loosened with a pitchfork.
Growing seedlings
Seedlings are prepared at the end of March. To do this, purchase containers - cassettes, pots, tablets, cups. You can grow the crop in ordinary plastic cups or kefir bags. The main thing is to rinse them thoroughly with warm water and soda.
The procedure for planting and caring for a crop looks like this:
- Soil is poured into the container. At a distance of 10 cm from each other, using a pencil, make grooves 1 cm deep.
- Place 2 seeds in each hole, sprinkle soil on top and water with warm water.
- Subsequently, the soil is moistened as it dries, approximately once every 4 days.
- With the appearance of the first shoots, the seedlings are fertilized with liquid bird droppings.
- Store the bushes on a warm, sunny windowsill. Daylight hours for seedlings are at least 12 hours.
Growing seedlings with picking
Picking - transplanting seedlings into larger containers. It is necessary if the plants were previously planted in cups or pots. In such conditions, the roots do not have enough space to develop and more space is required. Plant the sprouts carefully so as not to damage the fragile root system. To do this, prepare containers and soil in advance.
Advice. Peppers do not like picking, so it is better to plant them immediately in individual containers.
Landing
7–10 days before planting the crop in the garden, watering is stopped. The best time for picking is early morning or evening. Holes are prepared in the beds and water is poured into them.
The seedlings are removed from the containers, placed in holes, and the base of the stem is slammed down with soil. To protect against frost, the sprouts are covered with film or thin glass for the first 7 days.
Further care
Care consists of regular watering and fertilizing. Moisten the beds every 5–7 days. About 1 liter is consumed per bush. The water should be warm and clean. The stream is directed directly to the root. The optimal time for irrigation is morning or evening to avoid sunburn.
Feed Hercules pepper 3-4 times per season. For this, organic and mineral fertilizers are used: ash, ammonium nitrate, iodine, Bordeaux mixture, superphosphate. Apply funds before watering. The interval between procedures is 10–15 days.
Important! The beds must be clean and well-groomed. Gardeners remove weeds and debris and loosen the soil once a week. Weeding makes the soil light and airy, which has a beneficial effect on the development of roots and stems.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
When grown in a greenhouse, a special care regimen is required. Water the beds less frequently, about once a week. Indoor soil is characterized by high humidity and stuffiness, so it is important not to allow excess liquid. The structure is ventilated daily by opening the windows: Peppers need fresh air for healthy growth.
When applying fertilizing, the dosage is observed: an excess or lack of minerals leads to diseases. For example, excessive application of nitrogen promotes the growth of green mass, while the fruits remain small and insipid. An excess of calcium and iron leads to yellowing and drying of the leaves.
Important! With the appearance of the first fruits, the bushes form. A few central shoots are left, the rest are cut off. This increases the number of large and juicy peppers. The plant does not need weak and thin shoots.
Typical diseases and pests
Diseases and pests appear due to sudden climate changes, heat or rain, and improper care.
The most common and dangerous diseases are:
- Late blight - a fungal infection that occurs due to high humidity and heat. To prevent late blight, follow the rules of crop rotation, loosen the soil in a timely manner, and remove weeds. The fungus appears in the form of yellow and brown spots on the leaves, the fruits lose their elasticity and taste. The disease is treated with Quadris or Oksikhom.
- Powdery mildew - a virus that appears as a white coating on leaves and stems. Occurs due to contaminated soil, excessive application of mineral and organic fertilizers. For prevention, spraying with iodine or a solution of copper sulfate is used, for treatment - a solution of wood ash or “CHOM”.
Among the pests, wireworms, mole crickets and Colorado potato beetles are noted. Insects live underground and are frost-resistant. They destroy plants from the roots: they gnaw them, which is why the stem does not receive nutrients. Dry eggshells will prevent the appearance of pests: they are scattered over the beds. To get rid of insects, use “Typhoon” or “Hurricane” products.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages include attractive commercial qualities, juicy sweet pulp, and versatility of use. The Hercules variety is valued for its immunity and cold resistance. Delicate fruits are suitable for preparations a wide variety of dishes. The thick walls of vegetables ensure long-term storage.
Important! Peppers are harvested in mid-to-late August, when they turn deep red with a glossy hue. The Hercules variety is used for canning, pickling, preparations in stuffed, stewed and dried form. The sweetness of peppers combines with cucumbers, tomatoes, chicken and fish.
There are no disadvantages noted in the variety. Only occasionally does a crop suffer from late blight or powdery mildew due to improper care.
Reviews
Despite the popularity of Hercules, some gardeners were disappointed with the harvest. Let's look at a few reviews:
Evgeniy, Omsk: “Heracles planted the variety for the first time. Based on reviews, I thought that the pepper was easy to care for, but I had to constantly remove the side shoots. I rate the taste as “average”, I expected much more.”
Irina, Chelyabinsk: “I’ve been planting Hercules bell peppers for a long time. I’m always happy with the harvest: the peppers grow large and sweet. The variety is resistant to weather changes, frosts and winds.”
Ksenia, Moscow: “I love bell peppers. I especially like the Hercules variety.I plant seedlings, the harvest is rich. I use it fresh, and freeze some of it for the winter, after chopping it first.”
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Conclusion
The Hercules variety is suitable for both greenhouses and open ground. It is grown throughout the country: in the middle zone, the Volga region, the Urals, and Siberia. To obtain a rich harvest, the seedling method is used.
Vegetables ripen 95–105 days after the first shoots appear. Harvested in August, used fresh and for making soups, salads and snacks.