Description of the variety of sweet pepper Swallow and the basic rules of cultivation
Pepper Swallow is one of the common sweet peppers. It gives consistently good yields, and does not impose any special requirements for care. This is one of the few varieties of peppers that are not afraid of night frosts - the plants feel fine even at +13aboutFROM.
Why is Swallow pepper interesting?
This variety was bred in 1974, so the history of its cultivation goes back over 45 years. The breeding work was carried out by the staff of the Transnistrian Institute of Agriculture in Moldova. Sweet pepper Swallow attracts summer residents with its resistance to temperature extremes and autumn frosts. It is quite easy to grow it in different regions of Russia, and if you follow the usual rules of care, you can get a good harvest (4-5 kg per 1 m2 land).
The fruits are quite large - on average, the length of the cone is 10 cm, and the weight is 80-100 g. Due to the thick outer walls (5-7 mm) and reliable skin, they withstand not only light frosts, but also long-term transportation. They have a pronounced pleasant aroma and sweet taste of classic bell pepper. Therefore, they are used both fresh and in conservation.
The fruit got its name due to its characteristic conical shape, which resembles a swallow's beak. Under suitable growing conditions, their surface has the correct shape, the fruits are smooth, glossy. Ripe peppers have an attractive presentation: they are painted in bright shades of red and burgundy.
In the state register, as well as among experienced summer residents, an assessment of the yield of various varieties of peppers is often given in comparison with the Swallow pepper.
Description of the variety
The table shows the biological description of the variety, yield indicators, resistance to external environmental factors and other important parameters:
| Variety information | Breeding |
| Pollination type | Self-pollinated, partially insect-pollinated |
| View | Stamp |
| Type of ovary formation | Single |
| Ripening rate | 150-180 days (medium early) |
| Cultivation area | In all regions of Russia - in open or closed ground, depending on climatic conditions. |
| Stocking density | 3-4 bushes per 1 m 2 of soil, 60 x 40 cm |
| Yield | 4-5 kg from 1 m 2 of soil |
| Fruit type | Fruit length - 10 cm, weight - 100 g, regular conical shape, bright or dark red color, pronounced aroma, no pungency. |
| Purpose of fruits | For fresh consumption and canning. |
| Resistant to adverse conditions | It is resistant to temperature drops to +10 o C. Growth stops at +13 o C. |
| Disease resistance | Resistant to vetricillous wilting. |
| Susceptible to fusarium, black leg, late blight. |
Pros and cons of Swallow pepper
The characteristics of the fruits, yield, as well as reviews of experienced summer residents show that the variety has several tangible advantages, thanks to which it has become widespread in private farms:
- high yield - one of the leaders among pepper varieties;
- resistance to summer and first autumn frosts;
- fairly high yield;
- firm pulp, pleasant fruit taste.
It is possible to collect and consume the fruits of the Swallow pepper already at the stage of technical ripeness, when they have a light green color. However, it is worth considering the peculiarity of the variety - "young" peppers differ not only in color, but also in wall thickness. If you wait for biological maturity, they will grow more juicy pulp, will be more fleshy.The argument in favor of harvesting during the period of technical ripeness is that the peppers are stored longer, they survive transportation better. The best option, as usual, is somewhere in the middle: the Swallow crop is recommended to be harvested when the green peppers are just starting to turn red. At this time, the pulp contains the highest concentration of nutrients, and the collected fruits subsequently ripen successfully.
On the other hand, this variety is prone to typical diseases, which usually affect other varieties of pepper. In addition, although the Swallow does not require special care conditions, it needs additional protection from low night temperatures. Therefore, in a number of regions of Russia, the cultivation of peppers of this variety is possible only in a greenhouse.
Growing features
The variety produces one harvest per season and is grown using seedlings. To obtain seedlings, you can use both purchased and your own seeds collected from ripe fruits in the last season.
Seedlings should be planted in the last week of February. To get the maximum number of shoots, follow these rules:
- All seeds are preliminarily kept in water and treated for several hours.
- The soil is disinfected and loosened, the seeds are buried no more than 2 cm.
- The temperature during cultivation must be constantly maintained at + 25-30aboutC. To do this, organize a backlight with a medium-power lamp (80-100 W), which should shine for at least 12 hours daily.
- The first shoots will appear after 12-15 days. All this time you need to monitor the lighting and soil moisture. As soon as sprouts appear, the temperature should be reduced by 7-10aboutC so that they do not stretch out in length.
The total growing time for seedlings is 70–90 days. During this period, the land needs to be fed 2 times with complex fertilizer. In open ground, seedlings are transferred at the very beginning of June, that is, after at least 3 months after planting the seeds.
If even summer cold snaps regularly occur in the region (the temperature on the soil is below +13aboutC), it is advisable to plant the peppers in a greenhouse. In the southern regions this can be avoided.
The criterion for the readiness of seedlings for planting is the appearance of the first buds. The distance between the seedlings in the garden is from 40 cm, and between the rows - at least 60 cm. The nearest watering after planting is after 5 days, and then - as needed (the soil surface should always be moderately moist).
During the first weeks after planting, it is better to cover the seedlings with any material. Otherwise, the excess sun will quickly dry up the soil, which is why the growth of pepper will slow down.
Top dressing is regular - once every 2-3 weeks. Usually they give a complex mineral fertilizer. It is better not to use nitrogen fertilizing, otherwise, instead of fruits, the green part will begin to actively grow.
The fruits are harvested in August, and in the middle of this month you need to cut off all the flowers - the ovaries will no longer form. The peppers are harvested regularly until the September frost. They begin to blush already on the bush, but finally ripen on the windowsill under the sun (3-4 days). Then they can be used fresh or for homemade preparations.
Reviews of pepper Swallow
Often, summer residents speak well of the Swallow variety. They note that this crop is not capricious and gives fairly good yields. At the same time, the rules for caring for her are practically no different from the conditions for growing other varieties. And even in an unfavorable climate, it is quite possible to breed a Swallow indoors.
Svetlana, 52 years old, Moscow:
“I have sprouted all the seeds of the Swallow. The first leaves appeared within a month. True, the bushes for some reason grew small, but the peppers themselves are large, elongated. I recommend it for beginners - because taking care of the Swallow is very simple, and you can definitely please yourself with the harvest. "
Elena, 39 years old, Smolensk:
“I bought seeds in the store - the germination is excellent, all the entrances appeared as expected. In general, I have grown only 1 season so far, so I insured myself and took all the seedlings to the greenhouse.The peppers are really dense, the walls are impressive - just suitable for stuffing. The taste is typical, with aroma, therefore they are also suitable for blanks. "
Thus, this variety is ideal for both experienced and novice gardeners. Pepper Swallow does not require special breeding conditions, and subject to the technology of cultivation, it is guaranteed to provide large yields of delicious peppers.
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