Socrates X3R Hybrid Bell Pepper

[Cole_Robbie]

Early Sunsation F1 is the yellow bell to grow if you have not yet tried it. I also have Orange Blaze F1, and I like the peppers, but they are much smaller than I want.

[Hermitian]

Chris, I know you are looking for very thick wall peppers -- perhaps because your grill only goes one speed.

The other characteristic that I'm guessing you want is a pepper that does this all on its own, regardless of inputs. I don't have a solution for that.

What I can convey is that the Corno Yellow and Corno Red peppers I grow are every bit as thick-walled as the "standard" bells, including Socrates and Better Bell II. The cause is that I'm using ratios (by weight) of 1 part Nitrogen to 1.5 parts Potash equivalent (K2O). The guidance for maximum dosage is 1 lb Nitrogen per cubic yard of significant root volume (including soil) per growing season. For example, a well-cultivated tomato has 8 cubic feet, peppers more often achieve 4 cubic feet, and a 3+ year-old semi-dwarf fruit tree has 1 cubic yard. All this has been distilled from publications of Cal-Poly SLO and UC ANR. Of course in addition plants need the usual assortment of minors, micros, and biotics to prosper -- but getting the N to K ratio is important for fruiting plants.

Meeting these requirements in a soil that is otherwise void of ionic minerals is easy with a water-soluble. It is challenging with what most people would call "organic" methods, including USDA organic -- because the chemical dynamics in the soil are different. In particular, the organic methods have increased nitrogen deprivation and increased binding of metallic ions. This is why you see that my fruit fuel offerings are 4-4-7 for "organic" and 16-8-24 for water-soluble.

[clkeiper]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

...... I also have Orange Blaze F1, and I like the peppers, but they are much smaller than I want.

Cole Robbie, I wish they were bigger, too, BUT I find many customers don't want a huge pepper ( or fruit/veg.) anymore. Most of them are not family shoppers just single or two people households. Smaller isn't so bad. It is also the earliest orange pepper I could find.

I do appreciate seeing everyone else's positive comments on exceptional varieties. I did buy the early sunsation this year, but not one of them germinated. I'll try those and the socrates next year.

[ChrisK]

Thanks, I'm pretty well versed in plant growth requirements.

I'll take a look at the Cornos again and will give the Sunsation a try. I've also grown Purple Beauty. Not impressive.

[Hermitian]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Thanks, I'm pretty well versed in plant growth requirements.

There's growth requirements and then fruit and brix requirements. You could be right on top of it, but I put in the details because so many people in the horticulture field have missed it.

Originally Posted by ChrisK

I'll take a look at the Cornos again and will give the Sunsation a try. I've also grown Purple Beauty. Not impressive.

Several years ago the Purple Beauty and others were introduced: my disappointment was that these hybrids were essentially green bell peppers with purple skins. I don't care for green bell peppers in the green stage, so this was a big disappointment.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by Hermitian

Several years ago the Purple Beauty and others were introduced: my disappointment was that these hybrids were essentially green bell peppers with purple skins. I don't care for green bell peppers in the green stage, so this was a big disappointment.

Agreed.

[greenthumbomaha]

delete

[greenthumbomaha]

I would be interested in seeing photos of a typical pepper of this variety. The seed sellers have impressive pics but they may be a bit exaggerated as to the typical size. I'm having a banner year with Marconi's, Corno, etc., but my neighbors are outdoing me with a fantastic crop of Cal Wonder. I need an oh wow bell for next year. In my neighborhood, peppers are to be picked while green <shaking head> for that strong green flavor


- Lisa

[Hermitian]

For standard "block" shaped bell peppers, the Better Bell II Hybrid has outperformed all the others I grew this year.

http://www.tomatogrowers.com/mobile/...ductinfo/9015/

[b54red]

So far this year Socrates, King Arthur and Declaration have outperformed. They have made the largest and also the most peppers of any of the varieties. One of my Slonovo plants has done outstanding but the other has not. The other bells have just done okay but I can always hope for better in the fall if they live that long in this heat wave and drought.

Bill

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

Cole Robbie, I wish they were bigger, too, BUT I find many customers don't want a huge pepper ( or fruit/veg.) anymore. Most of them are not family shoppers just single or two people households. Smaller isn't so bad. It is also the earliest orange pepper I could find.

I do appreciate seeing everyone else's positive comments on exceptional varieties. I did buy the early sunsation this year, but not one of them germinated. I'll try those and the socrates next year.

I love mini-bells because I'm the only one who eats sweet peppers. I will probably get a mixture of mini-bells for next year. I like eating them fresh with homemade hummus. My husband doesn't like hummus much, or bell peppers.

[clkeiper]

My King Arthurs are HUGE. The largest block pepper that I have ever grown. I was hoping for an earlier red as mine are just now starting to turn, I just thought they would have turned by now, but it has been cold.
Orange Blaze is doing great and "tasty Orange Bell" is a nice orange bell that is earlier than any other I have found. It was colored up for todays market. all the other peppers (except orange blaze) are still green.

[b54red]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

My King Arthurs are HUGE. The largest block pepper that I have ever grown. I was hoping for an earlier red as mine are just now starting to turn, I just thought they would have turned by now, but it has been cold.
Orange Blaze is doing great and "tasty Orange Bell" is a nice orange bell that is earlier than any other I have found. It was colored up for todays market. all the other peppers (except orange blaze) are still green.

Socrates will produce just as large if not larger peppers and a bit earlier in my experience. I have grown both side by side many times and overall the Socrates usually outperforms King Arthur; but sometimes the KA gets really tall. Slonovo is even earlier and might do really well in your area but it isn't nearly as large and it is pointed instead of blocky. It does have fairly thick walls and really sweet flavor though.

Bill

[Cole_Robbie]

I'm still looking for an orange bell hybrid that is full-sized.

[ChrisK]

Same here. Wonder what the hybrid is that comes in the Sunset 6 pack at Sam's club.

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I'm still looking for an orange bell hybrid that is full-sized.