pinching out tops of chilli plants?

[chilli_grower]

Hi all,

I have read that it is good to pinch off the tops of chilli plants, as to promote bushiness.

I have never done this.

Is it really a good thing to do? And if so, how exactly do I do it? And how tall must the plant be before doing it?

cheers

[Aberdeenplotter]

the idea is to stop the plant from becoming "leggy". SImply pinch out the growing tip of each branch. That encourages the plant to throw out new side shoots thus making the plant bushier.

[rustylady]

Just what AP said really. Different varieties of chilli plant seem to have different growth habits though, and some bush naturally. Keep an eye on them and if you feel they aren't bushing out then just cut off the growing tip (about half an inch of the top of the stem) with sharp scissors or secateurs.

[chilli_grower]

great, thank you

[The Large One]

check this thread out i posted earlier in the year
it has a picture of a pinched out and non pinched chilli
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...chillis-2.html

[chilli_grower]

great, will look now, thank you

[muddyfeet]

This year I'm trying to overwinter my chilli and sweet peppers, so I didn't just pinch them, I cut them right back to about 6 inches, repotted them in new compost and smaller pots. I parked them for the winter in an upstairs bedroom windowsill out of the way. I wasn't expecting anything to happen until spring, but they've put out loads of new leaves. I'm thinking I'm going to have to pinch them out in spring.

[The Large One]

rule of thumb is cut them back hard, mine are bascially 6 inch sticks in a pot of compost and do not allow them to dry out but do not over water
if you leave them full size you WILL be visited by the aphid fairy one night and they will be covered within days so cut them back and just keep an eye on them and when the days lengthen and the light improves in spring they will wake up and be away again