Indoor hot pepper Spark attracts many gardeners with its characteristics and colorful fruits. It is used not only as a spicy addition to the dish, but also for the treatment of diseases. The spark is a real decorative plant that can decorate any kitchen.
History of Hot Pepper Flame
The year of application of the variety in the state register of breeding works is 1999. The creators are scientists of the Moscow company Russian Seeds and representatives of the Institute of Agriculture. In 2006, the variety received status, standard, it was allowed to grow throughout the Russian Federation.
Description and characteristics of pepper
Pepper Flame can be planted in any environment. On the bed, the bush reaches a height of about 0.4-0.5 m, in the pot - 0.3-0.4 m. The plant is pyramidal. Refers to mid-early ripening. The first crop can be obtained after 3.5-4 months after planting.
On the plant, you can simultaneously observe flowers and pods. Productivity - 3.8 kg per 1 square. m. The fruits are elongated, the shape is a narrow cone, the mass of one is 20 g, the walls are 1.5 mm thick. The pods are slightly twisted, when fully ripened, they become dark red.
Many companies sell completely different varieties under the name Spark, which have yellow fruits that are small or stick up too far. Often they mix mixtures of various spicy varieties that do not correspond to the actual description of Spark.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pepper Ogonyok has its pros and cons, which should be considered when growing a plant.
Benefits:
- the ability to grow not only in open field, but also at home;
- a small crown of a plant;
- strong immunity;
- bright aroma and pungent taste;
- decorative appearance;
- non-simultaneous ripening of fruits - you can harvest the crop for a long time;
- there is no need for the formation of a plant crown.
The disadvantages of the variety:
- confusion with seeds, different varieties are sold under the same name;
- the average ripening period, after planting, it is necessary to wait more than 3 months to get a crop, this characteristic is not suitable for residents of the northern regions;
- average yield.
Planting and growing
It is not difficult to grow the Spark in open soil or on the windowsill, but before planting the grains, you need to learn all the rules in order to achieve a good result.
Seed preparation
Before planting seeds, germinate in a humid environment. Take wet gauze or cotton pads, place grains in it and carefully wrap gauze. Put in a container and cover so that the moisture does not evaporate longer.
To germinate, place the seed in a dark and warm place (+ 25 ... + 27 degrees Celsius) for two days. Open and inspect the seeds from time to time. As soon as they begin to hatch, transplant into the soil. Do not allow excessive drying of the soil, otherwise they will die.
It is possible to plant the seed without preliminary preparation, but it is better to germinate the seeds in advance.
Landing time
Hot peppers grow for a long time, and this should be taken into account. You can sow pepper at any time, that is, all year. For example, if you land in the winter season (December-January), then you can take off the first fruits at the beginning of summer.
Responsibly approach the choice of a plot for growing. The variety loves the light, so choose the south or southeast window sill. During active sunshine, pritenite the plant. In the summer season, bring indoor pepper to fresh air, but completely eliminate drafts.
Hot peppers can not withstand winds and drafts, so while ventilating the room, keep it away from balconies, window leaves and windows.
Soil preparation
You can sow grains in the purchased special substrate. But it is better to cook the nutrient mixture with your own hands, it consists of: peat, river sand in a ratio of 2: 1 and perlite.
Before planting seed, treat the soil from various fungal diseases, it is better to use a weak solution of potassium permanganate for this purpose. Or just warm the soil in the oven (at 200 degrees 20 minutes).
When growing plants, pay special attention to the choice of capacity. Hot peppers form a not too large root system, which is located close to the surface of the earth. To grow this bush, select containers of about 3 liters, and preferably 5 liters.
Peppers are always grown with picking, so for the first time take wide and shallow pots, and then transplant the seedling in an individual container. The presence of drainage is mandatory, this will help get rid of excess moisture. Before landing directly on the bottom, lay out a drainage layer of 25 mm.
You can clearly see how the pepper is soaked and germinated. The light can be seen in the video below:
Planting seeds
Sow planting material to a depth of not more than 10 mm. At the same time, maintain a temperature of +25 degrees Celsius. After 10 days, the plant will sprout.
Transplanting seedlings
Hatching sprouts are placed in a bright place with a temperature of at least +22 degrees Celsius. As soon as the pepper releases the first leaves, it is dived in different pots. After 2 months, the light can be planted in the lawn.
Features and rules of care
If you follow all the rules, then caring for the plant will not be a huge deal.
Stimulation of flowering and fruiting fertilizing
Flowering is provided by a large amount of potassium in the soil. Apply in this period you need dry potassium or urea: 1 tbsp. l on 5 l of water. Nettle infusion is beneficial for the flowering of the plant.
In the warm season, you can add mineral fertilizers, for example, Summer resident or Ecohuminate, they perfectly affect the formation of ovaries. Means are used in a dry form. After fertilizing, be sure to water the plant.
Organics will help improve the structure of the soil, increase fertility, and protect against harmful insects. To create fertilizer, it is necessary to collect 1 bucket of young foliage and fill it with cold water, soak for 10 days until the product starts to ferment and the foliage sinks to the bottom. Then strain the mixture, and pour pepper with this tincture once every 10 days.
During fruiting, it is better not to fertilize the pepper at all, especially if the pods and leaves are in order. Further fertilizer application is carried out after harvesting.
Lighting requirements
For the development of pepper, it needs long-term lighting, lasting about 14-16 hours. In summer or spring, the Light can do without special fitolamps, but in winter and autumn it is impossible without additional lighting.
If the amount of light is insufficient, then the plant begins to discard the foliage.
Temperature mode
In spring, the temperature should not fall below +20 degrees, and in winter +18 degrees Celsius. Take out pots with plants in the warm season to fresh air.
Watering
Pepper Spark needs moderate, but regular watering. The soil should not dry out. Avoid waterlogging of the earth, because this can lead to rotting of the root system and death of pepper.
In case of insufficient humidity - spray greenery. Water for irrigation use room temperature and well-maintained.
Crown formation
Pepper Spark does not need to form a crown. Unless to give it a greater decorative look, you can pinch the tops of the shoots. Thanks to this procedure, the bush will become much more magnificent. If you want the fruits to be larger and longer, remove a small part of the flowers.
Harvesting and collecting seeds
It is not difficult to determine the time of full ripening of the fruits of this plant, since pepper has a pronounced red color. The main signs of ripening fruit Spark:
- The pods acquire a characteristic bright red color.
- The leaves of the pepper turn yellow, and the lower leaves dry out.
- Ripe fruits contain a large amount of bitter substances. Rub with a pod on the back of your hand, if you feel a burning sensation, then the pepper is ripe and can be collected.
The main sign of the full ripening of pepper is bitterness, the more pronounced it is, the longer it can persist. If you harvested earlier than expected, then you can use such pods for conservation.
Also, unripe fruits can be put in a warm place where they ripen. Use only ripe pods to collect seeds.
Breeding
This plant can be propagated in two main ways: using seeds and cuttings. Let's consider them in order.
Seeds
Cut the pepper and remove the seeds from it. Dry them in the sun and put in paper. This seed can be used in the future to propagate your indoor hot pepper Spark. Just remember that the seeds are not eternal, and you need to plant them as early as possible.
Cuttings
In order for daughter plants to retain all the properties of their “parents”, it is better to propagate pepper by cuttings. Cut branches from green young shoots without pods, about 70 mm long. Each leaf should grow a leaf, and preferably 2 leaves. Before planting seedlings in the soil, soak the cuttings in a solution of zircon (7 drops per 250 ml of water) for a day.
Growing Pepper Spark Potted at Home
When growing at home, once every 2 years, the pepper Spark must be transplanted into another pot with a new soil mixture. In the spring and before the end of summer, add various complex top dressings to the ground (1 time in 2 weeks).
During flowering, be more attentive to the plant, many gardeners claim that it is at home that the light begins to drop the ovaries. If this happens, then the main reason for this phenomenon is lack of pollination. To correct the situation is easy - during flowering, gently shake the bush (shake the pot from one side to the other).
Diseases and Pests
The light refers to hardy plants. It contains special elements that fight diseases, so some ailments do not attack the bush at all.
If the leaves have become a little paler or started to fall, then the reason lies not in diseases, but in the lack of daylight. The main danger is two enemies: aphids and spider mites. They can attack peppers from other plants or fly through a window on your windowsill.
How to get rid of spider mites and aphids:
- Take a pair of peppercorns and pass them through a meat grinder.
- Fill the mass with water (1:10).
- Infuse the mixture for a day.
- Strain through cheesecloth.
- Add chopped laundry soap (1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water).
- With this solution, spray pepper every 4 days.
So that the plant does not attack the tick, just keep the humidity in the room. The pest does not like a humid climate, so spraying will interfere with it.
Reviews about pepper Spark
Alina, 26, music teacher, Moscow. My family is very fond of spicy dishes, so I decided to grow a sparkling pepper on my windowsill. I bought seeds from trusted sellers, not all who planted came up. It turned out to grow several large bushes. The fruits are very sharp, ideal for us. The only thing that upset me was that one plant destroyed the aphids. What I just didn’t do was to save him anyway.
Vera, 65 years old, librarian, Omsk. I immediately bought seedlings, I decided that I myself do not want to grow from seeds. Pepper grew slowly, the first crop was received only after 3 months. I like the fact that as soon as I collect the pods, the pepper is already blooming and bearing fruit again. Dropped him around the house, now all year round we have sharp pods of Light.
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Indoor pepper Spark - a unique ornamental plant, it will not leave indifferent any housewife. Pods are used to prepare various dishes, they are added in preservation. With the proper planting and care of pepper, it will bring a healthy and tasty crop all year round.