Pinching Peppers

[Jay-ell]

As my chillies and peppers are coming along a bit and last year I had a negligible crop, I was wondering if other grapes pinch out their chilli and sweet pepper plants to promote bushiness?

[Scarlet]

I've voted sometimes. On either chillies or peppers if they get to approx 6/8inches tall and haven't thrown out any side shoots I'll nip out the top. im sure there was a link on here (maybe chilli growerput it up) of the growth difference on both over a season.
I've grown a few varieties of chillies that aren't worth bothering with if you don't want to overwinter them as the first season (unless you grow with lights - I don't) often doesn't give a decent crop but more than makes up for it in its second year.

[Moopmoop]

I've voted sometimes purely because I'll pinch out if I think the plant needs to stop growing upwards and needs encouraging outwards. If my plants stop by themselves at a foot then fine, I'll leave well alone. But some of them head skywards so I nip them to keep them at a reasonable size. What did you do last year, pinch or no pinch?

[Scarlet]

Here you go...worth a look at the photo
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...chillis-2.html

[Jay-ell]

What did you do last year, pinch or no pinch?

Don't think I pinched last year. To be honest last year I done everything wrong. Sown too late, to small a pot, too much shade on the plot etc. Had a few habaneros and ghost chillies (which didn't last long as they've both moreish and lovely straight off the plant) and a few sweet peppers (Marconi I think).

Here you go...worth a look at the photo
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...chillis-2.html

Thanks for that Scarlet.


OK so I'm growing Koral (which I don't know about) and Birdseye, Cayenne and Hungarian Hotwax which I believe are annum.


Of course I could always do a fifty fifty with half of each pinched and the other half not pinched.

[Thelma Sanders]

If any of them try to flower before they have branched, I'll pinch out the top bud and flower.

I find that if you leave the first flowers on they never seem to get bushy

[spamvindaloo]

I sometimes pinch to stop them getting too tall. Although in practice when I say 'pinch', I'm usually a little bit more brutal and just chop their heads off As long as you get the growing tip, it serves the same purpose.

[Alison]

Sunshine and location will have a much bigger impact on cropping. If they don't have enough light they will grow tall and weak, if they don't have enough food they won't produce, same for warmth. I can't grow outdoors, can manage some in pots in the greenhouse but much better in the polytunnel beds.