Chilli plants in ground - to pinch out or not?

[Snoop Puss]

Well, I've just taken unexpected delivery of about 30 very small chilli plants of several different varieties from a friend, some to grow for him and some for us. I'm not much of a chilli expert. I only grow a couple of not very fiery ones: bung them in the ground and let them get on with it.

This friend is a chilli-head who lives in a flat, so he has very limited space. So I feel I ought to make an effort, even if it means I have to give up pea space for them.

The instructions I received, Chinese-whispers-style via another friend who is no gardening expert, was pinch them out at the ninth leaf. Now this sounds odd to me. I thought accepted practice - which I never do - is pinch the tops off to make them bush out. But might it also make a difference that they're not in pots but planted out in a bed? Do you treat them differently depending on variety? (For info, there are: Ghost, Thai, Lemon Drop, Demon, Padrón, Purple Tiger, Chenzo and Jalapeño.)

Any and all advice much appreciated.

[sparrow100]

I've never pinched out chillies. Padrons seem to get all bushy on their own. Chenzo are lovely chillies and they grow into lovely umbrella-shaped plants if left unpinched. I have usually got about 100-150 chillies off each chenzo plant.

Lemon Drops are really straggly plants though, and might benefit a bit from pinching.

Someone else will be along to tell you differently soon enough.

[Small pumpkin]

Yes you have to treat different varieties of chilli's differently.
Don't pinch out the ghost.
I would of thought the best person to ask is your friend you are growing them for. What they want doing with them. Or does he just like eating them?
There is another thread on this but I don't know how to put a link up.
Someone clever will be along soon

[Elfeda]

I assume any chilli plant despite its type, get benifit from pinching the heads.

[Snoop Puss]

Great advice, Sparrow and Smallpumpkin, thanks. The Chenzo sound lovely.

Quite right, Smallpumpkin, I do need to ask him, but I thought I'd gather some intel first! I know he has made (very) hot sauce in the past, so that could be his intention.

One thing's for sure, I'm giving him all the Ghost chillis. Way too much heat for me. And I know it's not the done thing to admit, living in Spain and all, but I don't really get Padrón peppers. I'd rather know what I'm eating! Still, nice to be able to grow something for someone as a treat.

[bario1]

There's a bit of a Padron pepper fan club here on the vine...

[Snoop Puss]

There's a bit of a Padron pepper fan club here on the vine...

Maybe I'll like them better if they're cooked straight off the plot. The ones I've had before have been from shops or in a restaurant and they've always struck me as a bit bitter.

Following Small pumpkin's suggestion, I've had a look at this thread on chillis in pots:
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...chillis-3.html

I've chosen to link to page three because there's a comparative photo. The video (link on page one) was also very useful. The upshot of the video was pinch out capsicum annums, don't pinch out the others. So, time to check out which of these chillis are annums and then decide at what point/date to pinch them off.

First frost here is usually mid-October, but we go from warm nights to minus 6 in a matter of ten days or so. So I might leave them to grow a bit longer before doing it. Anyway, all good fun.

Any and all advice still welcome.

[sparrow100]

Padrons are best fresh. I've never thought much of the ones I've bought, compared to the flavour and punch of freshly picked chillies.

I grow mine in flower buckets and they get to about 2.5 ft high - let us know how yours do over there where you have more heat than us!

[Snoop Puss]

Padrons are best fresh. I've never thought much of the ones I've bought, compared to the flavour and punch of freshly picked chillies.

I grow mine in flower buckets and they get to about 2.5 ft high - let us know how yours do over there where you have more heat than us!

Good news on the flavour. Not so good on the size... I might have to forego beans as well as peas!

Edited to add: I understand they're originally from Galicia, so a cool, wet part of Spain. Here it's very hot and dry in the summer (with torrential storms from time to time). You might have more success with them in the UK than I will here. But I'll report back.

[Philthy]

Lemon Drop / Hot Lemon grows almost like a vine. It will grow quite untidily left to it's own devices. I've had mature specimens in recent years get to around 2m height. Support is essential though or the canopy will just collapse under it's own weight. With trimming and considered tying in you can create a very bushy, highly productive plant. But a first year Hot Lemon should still do well for you given your location. And should grow faster given the roots can properly spread out once actively growing. It'll still need a bit of support as it grows - a wire frame would be ideal (I use them on most of my potted plants). Rich soil is good. Pick fruits regularly once flowering begins to maintain production. Don't forget to post pictures

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Philthy. If it's in the ground, I can't see it surviving the winter here unless climate change gets a move on. The coldest I've recorded here is minus 17 ºC, but most winters we hit minus 12 ºC. I guess I could try and dig one up and put it in a pot and bring it indoors... Mr Snoop might complain though: it's a small house and the garden is already moving indoors too much for his liking.

Do you have any photos of your wire frame?

[Philthy]

Do you have any photos of your wire frame?

Moruga Scorpion 2 year old Left, with wire frame (available in some form from any garden centre in the UK pretty much or online for cheaper).

Chinese Black 2 year old Right, just with canes and string. This one grows in similar fashion to Lemon Drop. As it sounds like you'll have optimum summer weather where you are hopefully you'll achieve significant growth (more than in Britain at any rate). Trim off any particularly straggly / thin shoots and to shape so it grows within a frame, and the Lemon DRop should romp away.

[Snoop Puss]

Moruga Scorpion 2 year old Left, with wire frame (available in some form from any garden centre in the UK pretty much or online for cheaper).

Chinese Black 2 year old Right, just with canes and string. This one grows in similar fashion to Lemon Drop. As it sounds like you'll have optimum summer weather where you are hopefully you'll achieve significant growth (more than in Britain at any rate). Trim off any particularly straggly / thin shoots and to shape so it grows within a frame, and the Lemon DRop should romp away.

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Wow! I wish I could give you more than one like for those pictures. Those are seriously impressive plants.
I don't have a greenhouse (impossible given the volume and size of hailstones we get here) and they will be buffeted by gale force winds, so I can't see me managing anything like as impressive as those. But what an inspiration! I'll definitely sort out some kind of cage arrangement and see how they do. Many thanks for posting.

[Philthy]

Kind of you to say, Snoop, but as stated I do have the benefit of a green house which makes a huge difference, in heat retention but also of course wind protection. Those pictured are mature plants, and the support frames are crucial if they are to achieve those heights. If the plants survive winter, the mainentance for the year mostly consists of water, feed, treat pests as they appear, pruning.... and then picking the crop (and keep my fingers crossed for decent summer sun ). The biggest dilema is what do I do with all the chillies as I always end up with far more than I could ever use.


Where in Spain are you that you experience all this extreme weather?
Could you perhaps erect a small greenhouse, anchor it well, and fit wire mesh over the roof so it sits clear of the glass panes, to give protection from the hail? Or build a structure attached to the side of the house for increased stability? Perspex as a glazing material has a lot more flex to it than glass, it might not weather as well long term but it should hold up to a hail storm or two.
I think you'll definitely need a windbreak of some description if your site is as volatile as you say.