Chilli peppers

[anthonyjb]

Hi
Do I need pinch the tops chilli/peppers


Thanks
Anthonyjb

[Samurailord]

Hi Anthony

No, you don't need to pinch out the tops if you have enough room for them to grow, but a lot of people do to make the plant bush out.

I have even seen some who effectively 'Bonsai' their chillis very successfully

Andy

[anthonyjb]

Hi Anthony

No, you don't need to pinch out the tops if you have enough room for them to grow, but a lot of people do to make the plant bush out.

I have even seen some who effectively 'Bonsai' their chillis very successfully

Andy

Thank you Andy

[Scarlet]

I don't pinch mine put either although I have in the past. You could experiment...

[NatalieCooke]

I have two Chilli & Peppers plants. Only one of each has started to flower. I did have a flower on one of the pepper plants but I noticed this morning it's dried up.
Silly question coming up. Do I have to hand pollinate them? If so how if I've only got one flower on each? It does look like there could be more flowers in the next day or two but I'm worried the ones that are on there now will have dried up.

[ButternutSquash]

The first flowers often drop off anyway. To ensure pollination you can stick a pinky into each flower in turn. Or you can shake the plant, which apparently works according to one commercial grower. Insects should do the job anyway, depending on where the plants are.

And as said, no need to pinch out chillis.

[Philthy]

I like to go round the flowers now and again with a small artists type paint brush. Gently touch the stamens, get some pollen on the bristles, transfer to the next flower, and so on. A bit of string works well too, or just a finger as ButternutSquash says.
If the plants are undercover, pollinating insects should still find their way in through open windows / vents etc, but not guaranteed. Doing it yourself is more thorough, but time consuming. A regime half way between the two works fine, in my opinion.

[NatalieCooke]

Quick question.

One of my peppers has a small hole in the side, i can see tiny seeds inside. Not sure if anything have taken a nibble out of it. Should i take it off or will it be ok?

[elleme]

I rub a finger under flowers when I see them. Easy enough to check when watering. Mine are indoors on a sunny windowsill this year due to lack of greenhouse space and have cropped well.