Variety of pepper Tenderness can often be found in personal plots. It was bred back in 1982 in Russia, so it is perfect for growing in our latitudes.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Bushes of pepper Tenderness reach considerable size, sometimes they can grow up to 140 cm. The plant has a massive central stem, from which there are lush branches. Leaves are medium sized.

This variety is considered to be mid-early, therefore, from the moment of seed germination to fruit ripening, about 115 days pass. But if you observe the most favorable conditions for growing the crop, then this period can be reduced to 90 days.

Did you know? By properties, sweet pepper resembles chocolate. Thanks to him, the body releases endorphins into the blood.

A copious amount of greenery on a plant requires constant care and the formation of a bush. The number of crops depends on this. If you let the pepper grow on its own and do not deal with it closely, then from one plant you can get up to 1.5 kg of fruits. But if you decide to take proper care of the pepper and clear the bush in time, then the yield can be increased several times, and the ripening time of the fruits will be accelerated.

To diseases and pests, pepper Tenderness is immune, but not to all. Timely pruning will help protect the plant from undesirable effects, thanks to which the bush will be better ventilated. But at the same time, the plant remarkably tolerates changes in weather and temperatures, and the cold does not affect it.

Pros and cons of the variety

• Among the advantages of the variety, gardeners note the following qualities:
• high productivity. During the season, with good care, you can collect about 2.5 kg of peppers;
• the variety ripens very early;
• good taste;
• fruits can be consumed both fresh and added to various dishes. In winter, it can be stored as a preservation or frozen;
• resistant to many diseases;
• the plant does not need to be tied to a support, in addition, it is suitable for growing both in the garden and in the greenhouse;
• delicate and juicy taste of fruits;
• thick fruit walls, which makes them well suited for stuffing.

The fruits have a large amount of vitamin C, which allows the body to receive the necessary substances to maintain youthful tissues and strengthen immunity. The fruits of this variety help improve digestion and improve heart function.

Due to the vitamin composition of the fruit, this pepper is able to beneficially affect the nervous system. If you introduce pepper into your daily diet, it will help lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure.

This product has a fairly low calorie content. 92% of the fetus is water, and only 0.1% is fat. In addition to vitamin C, the composition of the fruits also includes vitamins C, A, E, B3, B5, B6, as well as chemical elements: Mg, Ca, K, Na, P.

There are no special drawbacks in this variety; its only minus can be called exactingness to humidity. The variety does not tolerate drought and excessive moisture, so you need to clearly monitor the watering regime.

Optimal crop dates and regions

You need to sow pepper in mid-February. If you decide to plant a crop in a greenhouse, then you need to sow 60–80 days before this moment. When the first 2 leaves are formed on the plant, then you can already dive pepper. In a 1 m² greenhouse there are no more than 6 bushes. When the first branches begin to appear on the sides, during this period it is already possible to begin the formation of a bush.

In the years when the variety was just bred, sweet pepper could be grown exclusively in the southern climate. But, thanks to the efforts of breeders, the tenderness variety made it possible for gardeners and more northern regions to grow this crop. The variety is able to grow both with short and long daylight hours, tolerating temperature changes, up to frost. It tolerates low temperatures.

The unique properties of the variety allow gardeners to grow it even in areas of risky farming. The manufacturer's recommendations do not indicate the recommendations for growing Tenderness in the southern regions.

Important! In cold climates, it is recommended that the bushes be placed under a film, which will help increase the amount of yield and help the plant better tolerate differences in night and day temperatures.

This happened due to the fact that for such a climate there are many other, no less high-quality varieties. A sweet pepper Tenderness is recommended to be planted in the northern regions, although in fact, it is suitable for a warm zone.

Culture cultivation

This variety of pepper must be transferred to the open ground only in the form of seedlings, since it requires planting already at the end of February, but in our climate the land is still too frozen.

Seedlings

Before sowing the seeds must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. And also select and discard damaged and deformed specimens. Soak in a disinfectant solution is recommended for about 20 minutes.

Then they must be placed on a natural fabric, which is slightly saturated with clean water, and put this bundle in a warm place for 17 days, so that the seeds germinate. Sometimes gardeners infiltrate seeds with growth stimulants.

Each seed needs to be planted in a separate cup or other container. The soil must be prepared in advance by adding natural fertilizers to it and well loosened. As a top dressing, you can also use the tool "Kemira Lux."

To make plants better taken already in the open ground, seedlings can be periodically placed under a window for hardening. At the same time, initially such procedures should last 5 minutes, and in the future the period of time is increased to 20 minutes.

Seedlings should be in containers for growing no more than 3 months. In the southern region, culture is planted in the first half of May. In the northern regions it is better to wait until the beginning of June.

Landing

It is worth transferring the culture to the soil after all the frosts are over, because despite the endurance of the variety, the young growth has not yet had enough time to harden and may die. Before this, it is necessary to cultivate the soil well, loosen it, and clean it of debris. The temperature of the earth should be at least + 15 ° C.

Gardeners need to remember that pepper can not be planted in the soil on which solanaceous plants grew. In addition, sand, humus and manure must be added to the soil. Bushes should be at a distance of 40 cm from each other.

The leaves of the plant should not be too high above the surface of the soil, literally a few centimeters. After planting, plants need to be watered.

Plant care

Watering the crop is carried out often, but you should try not to pour water on the greens. Water for irrigation should be at the same temperature as air. For better irrigation quality, experienced gardeners recommend making furrows between the rows, in which water is required to be poured. Mulch helps in growing peppers. It protects plants from the appearance of weeds and restrains moisture.

Important! You need to be careful with the amount of moisture, since both its lack and excess can lead to dropping of leaves, inflorescences and stiffness of the stem.

We must not forget about top dressing. To fertilize the crop, it is recommended to breed manure with water in a ratio of 1 to 10, you can add more fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. But with fertilizers, it’s important not to overdo it.

Tenderness is a mid-season variety, because of this it is necessary to remove excess greens on it even before the fork. When the bush reaches 30 cm in height, it is recommended to pinch the plant. From the bush you can remove no more than 2 leaves, but it is recommended to leave the ovary up to 15 pcs.

If the bush is studded with fruits, then it is recommended to remove peppers already in a state of technical maturity. They can ripen in a warm, dry place. Ripe fruits are recommended to be applied to food or dishes. It is not recommended to plant tomatoes and hot peppers next to this crop, otherwise Tenderness can become dusty and become bitter.

Pests and diseases

This variety is considered one of the most resistant to diseases and pest attacks. However, he does not have absolute immunity, therefore, requires special care.

Most often, peppers are affected:

• late blight;
• verticillosis;
• white rot.

Did you know? Pepper is often used in cosmetology. Its extract is part of face masks that are used in skin cleansing.

In order to protect plants from these diseases, it is necessary to apply preventive measures:

• harvesting, preparation and loosening of the soil should begin as early as autumn;
• it is necessary to sort out the seeds and treat them with a disinfectant;
• try to plant pepper away from other crops;
• An important factor in maintaining the health of peppers is timely weeding, namely, from the moment the first grass appears on the bed;
• categorically do not water the culture with cold water;
• as a fertilizer for peppers, wood ash is well used, which can be sprinkled on the ground around the bush;
• timely removal of affected greens.

Another danger that lies in wait for peppers during their growth are pests. Especially often they attack plants in a greenhouse.

Namely peppers are subject to:

1. Tle. To get rid of this insect, bushes are recommended to be treated with insecticides.
2. Slugs. They can be assembled by hand or specialized traps can be placed around the perimeter of the bed. For prevention, it is good to use parsley or mustard, which are sown between rows.
3. Colorado potato beetle. It can also be collected from the bushes by hand. So that the beetle does not attack the culture, it is not recommended to grow potatoes or tomatoes nearby.
4. Spider mite. This infestation helps get rid of the infusion of garlic or onions with the addition of liquid soap.

Collection and storage of the fetus

Fruits can be harvested as early as 70 days after planting. They can be collected both in technical and biological maturity. The first fruits ripen in August, and the collection continues until frost.

Harvesting is usually done simultaneously with eggplant and tomatoes. You can remove peppers from the bush every 6-8 days. It is recommended to cut them together with the peduncle, then the peppers will be better stored. When harvesting, it is important to do it carefully, otherwise you can damage the plant.

If we eat the crop to produce later than expected, then the growth of the following fruits will slow down. For the season, such fees can be about 5. Before the expected frost, it is recommended to remove all peppers. With proper storage, they can lie for about a month.

If these conditions are not met, then the peppers will disappear in a few days:

1. It is best to leave the fruits in the refrigerator, and those peppers that have technical damage should be consumed right away.
2. You can store in boxes, bags, boxes and other containers. It is best to put the crop in plastic bags, so it lasts longer.
3. Peppers can also be frozen by laying it in polyethylene or boxes in several rows on a shelf. Storage temperature should not be lower than 10 ° C.
4. A vegetable can be stored on paper for up to 1.5 months.
5. It is important to remember that peppers can easily absorb odors, so try to keep it away from their sources. Pepper containers must be clean.

This is a universal culture that has many storage methods. So peppers can be dried, boiled, canned, added to salads, fried, made caviar and mashed potatoes. Canned peppers are a good snack to the table, but after freezing it can be added to soups and side dishes.

Grade Tenderness is able to grow even in the most difficult weather conditions. Although it was bred a long time ago, it is in no way inferior to other, more modern varieties. Therefore, for cultivation, especially in cold regions, it is the most successful.