Hot pepper "Lamb's Horn", its varietal characteristics and reviews of gardeners
The "Lamb Horn" pepper variety is created for lovers of spicy, but not too fiery taste. Even inexperienced (but responsible!) Gardeners can grow it. A pleasant bonus - after the end of the summer season, hot pepper bushes can grow in pots on the balcony or windowsill of a city apartment.
A brief history of the creation of the variety
According to some sources, this variety was created in Italy, according to others - in Hungary. Work on its selection began at the beginning of the 20th century. "Ram's horn" is not one of the most bitter, the pungency is 10,000–35,000 Scoville units (depending on the agricultural company).
The scale for measuring hotness was developed by William Scovill, a scientist from the American city of Detroit, at the beginning of the last century, studying and comparing varieties of hot peppers with chemicals in terms of hotness.
Consumer attractiveness
Pepper "Lamb's Horn" is becoming more and more popular among lovers of spicy food. How does he attract gardeners?
- Taste qualities of fruits. The pepper is not too hot, very aromatic, spicy. Well suited for those who love dishes "with peppercorns", but due to the characteristics of their body cannot afford to use too spicy varieties.
- Universal application. You can eat salted and fresh pepper, just put it on a sandwich, and also cook various dishes with it or dry it for the winter.
- It is possible to regulate the pungency of the vegetable by increasing or decreasing the watering of the plant.
- High yield - up to 1.5 kg per bush.
- Duration of fruiting. In the fall, the bush is dug up and placed in a large container in order to continue to feast on pepper, growing it in the kitchen.
Characteristics and description of the variety
It is most convenient to display the description of the plant in the form of a table:
| Variety information | Breeding, not hybrid. |
| Introduced - created for growing in the territory of the Russian Federation. | |
| Pollination type | Pollinated by insects |
| View | Standard bush, medium spreading. |
| In open ground it reaches a height of 45-60 cm, in a greenhouse - up to 1 m. | |
| Type of ovary formation | Forms 2-3 nests. |
| Ripening rate | Mid-season - 130–150 days pass from germination to biological ripeness. |
| Cultivation area | The middle zone of the Russian Federation: can be grown in open ground and greenhouses. |
| Stocking density (planting pattern) | 50 x 50 cm - in greenhouses, 50 x 30 cm - in the open field. |
| Yield | 3-4 kg per square meter, up to 60 fruits per bush. |
| Fruit type | Large, long, conical, moderately pungent, aromatic. |
| Purpose of fruits | Upon reaching a yellow color, they can be consumed fresh, suitable for canning. At biological ripeness, it is best used as a seasoning and to dry. |
| Resistant to adverse conditions | They are planted with seedlings when the threat of frost has passed (you can plant it in the greenhouse earlier). The optimum growing temperature is + 25–30 ° C. When the temperature rises to +40 ° C, the greenhouse must be opened from the ends, otherwise the fruits will no longer be tied. |
| Requires a lot of sun, grows more slowly in partial shade. Regular watering is important. | |
| Disease resistance | With proper agricultural technology, the risk of late blight disease and fusarium disease is reduced. |
Pepper bushes "Sheep Horn" have the following characteristics:
- height outdoors - 45-60 cm, in greenhouses - up to a meter;
- standard, medium spreading, branched;
- leaves of medium size, slightly wavy, green;
- fruits are located top down;
- bush formation is not required.
The fruits are characterized by the following varietal characteristics:
- the length of the peppers is 25–35 cm, the longer fruits begin to twist into a "ram's horn";
- weight - 15-25 g;
- cone-shaped, slightly wavy, up to 3 cm in diameter;
- glossy;
- wall thickness - 1.5–2 mm;
- upon reaching the technical ripeness of a light green color, then turn yellow;
- at full biological maturation - dark red;
- excellent taste, slightly hot pepper, aromatic, spicy.
Pros and cons of the variety
Hot pepper "Lamb's Horn" has its advantages and disadvantages over similar varieties.
The undoubted advantages include the following:
- Peppers that have reached biological ripeness have a denser skin, which ensures long-term storage. Not damaged during transportation.
- Consistently high yield - 3 kg per m2, or up to 60 fruits per bush.
- Pepper is versatile in use: it can be eaten fresh, pickled, seasoned, dried.
- Fruit ripening extended over time.
The disadvantages include the requirements for compliance with agricultural technology:
- watering is extremely important, the plant should never be overdried;
- sufficient illumination;
- fertility and lightness of the soil;
- the temperature should not be lower than + 16 ° С and not higher than + 40 ° С.
Growing features
Since the ripening time of the fruits is from 130 to 150 days, and this is almost 5 months, then the seedlings must be taken care of in advance. The best time is mid to late February.
It is recommended to plant in a permanent place of growth in cloudy weather or in the late afternoon, so that unadapted plants do not get sunburn. You also need to take into account the possibility of return frosts at the end of May and prepare a covering material if planting is carried out in open ground. Peppers are planted in the greenhouse 2-3 weeks earlier.
If the bushes become too thick, it is necessary to remove the yellowed leaves and shoots that will no longer bear fruit.
Many gardeners initially plant hot peppers in a large pot or do it before the onset of frost and transfer it to the house, to the balcony or loggia. There, the plant can delight with fruits for a long time.
Also, a bush dug out with the fruits can be hung under a canopy, where green fruits ripen without losing their presentation.
Reviews of gardeners
Listening to the opinions of gardeners about this variety, we can conclude that many people like it, more and more summer residents are beginning to be interested in it. Nevertheless, gardeners come to the unequivocal opinion that, like any hot pepper, "Ram's Horn" in order to obtain a rich harvest requires compliance with agricultural standards in full.
The following points cannot be ignored: for canning and fresh consumption, it is better to use peppers at the stage of technical ripeness - the skin is still thin and tender.
For a good harvest, you should not overuse nitrogen fertilizers. It is necessary to alternate them with potash and phosphorus dressings. An imbalance in nutrition leads not only to a decrease in yields, but also to plant diseases.
Having a spicy pungent taste and a strong aroma, the "Sheep Horn" pepper fell in love with gardeners not only for these qualities. High yield, versatility in use, long-term fruiting - this is what makes it especially attractive for cultivation in personal plots.
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