Crop: Capsicum annuum L. (Pepper)
This landrace has long, but creased fruit, which is not straight enough for the general market requirements, but has a special appearance. Its colour changes from dark green to dark red when ripe. The flesh is thin but hard, almost crunchy, with spicy sweet flavours.
It needs normal pepper cultivation: indoor sowing in late February, planting at the beginning of May. It is a relatively resistant plant, doesn’t show any sensitivity to diseases, it can be grown easily in organic farming circumstances.
Cultivation System: organic/low-input conditions.
Geographical Information
Country: Hungary
‘Bocskor’ is cultivated in North Hungary, in Heves county. Due to its non-marketable appearance, it is mainly grown in vegetable gardens, for family purposes. It is originated from an old family heritage, possibly arrived from Italian farmers to a Budapest green district in the 1940s, and travelled on with the family to the present area.
Farmer(s) description:
‘Bocskor’ was maintained by one family, who moved to North Hungary from Budapest, but in the last years with the rising number of seed exchanges and local seed savers is spread to other farms as well. So it is collected by the Hungarian National Gene Bank (NBGK) and distributed in small quantities to farmers.
It is mainly grown in small farms and gardens, usually with organic farming technologies.
Propagation system: Seed, self-pollination
Multiplication procedures and consequences on landrace diversity:It is a predominantly self-pollinating plant with possibilities to cross with other cultivars, therefore the farmer has to isolate the population well. Each farmer produces their own seeds, selecting by fruit size, colour, plant strength, and fruit quantity per plant. It is best to save seeds from long, creased, dark red, ripe fruits, which were stored after harvesting on a dry, sunny place for a week or two. The seeds are saved only from healthy fruits.
Management plan existence:The landrace management relies completely on farming activities in the area.
Added Values
‘Bocskor’ landrace has no market presence in the area, although with better consumer consciousness, and local markets it can find its proper place that its flavour deserves in the near future.
Others (e.g. commercial/geographical brands or special traits):It is a very productive, tasty and resistant landrac.
With the rising number of seed exchanges and local seed savers it was spread to a number of farms. It was collected by the National Centre for Plant Diversity, and distributed by them in small quantities to farmers. A non-governmental network, called ‘Magház’ community seed bank in 2019 also included this landrace into its on-farm experiments.
As local products and organic food slowly gain their places on the family tables, ‘Bocskor’ may become more popular on the marketplaces as well. It can promote more production among small-scale organic farmers who save seeds for themselves.
It is available at the Hungarian National Centre for Plant Diversity.
Seeds are also available via Magház network.
Case study prepared by The Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi), Hungary.
ND.