Compact veg to grow in confined spaces from Burpee Europe
With home gardeners wanting to use their patio or balcony space to grow their own veg, the Burpee Europe team has been working on breeding programmes to produce compact varieties. With this in mind, they have introduced pepper Popti and cucumber Merlin.
Pepper Popti and Cucumber Merlin are the creme de la creme of modern breeding. They are perfect for those who love to eat what they grow. Both vegetables are easy to cultivate, with some resistance to diseases, making them perfect for new gardeners.
Pepper Popti
If you thought you couldn’t grow bell peppers in a container, think again. For maximum yield in the minimum of space, Popti cannot be beaten.
This delightful compact plant produces about 10 fruits weighing 60–70g and measuring 6–8cm in length by 5cm in width. The fruits ripen very early, turning from light-green to deep red, with thick, juicy flesh. Pepper Popti is available from Chiltern Seeds, Pennard Plants, Plants of Distinction and Sea Spring Seeds.
Cucumber Merlin
Cucumbers have a difficult reputation, and most gardeners look for varieties that are easy to grow in our climate and also have some resistance to diseases. Merlin has good resistance to powdery mildew and some resistance to downy mildew and cucumber mosaic.
This mid-type performs across a range of climates and produces a good yield of one or two delicious fruits at every node every few days. Cucumber Merlin is available from Pennard Plants, Plants of Distinction, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons Seeds.
