Topic: Chillies and pinching out

[1066]

Growing Chillies from seed for the 1st time, and looking at them now (about 8" high and doing fine on a sunny windowcill) do I pinch out the small bits of growth between the main stems - sorry if this is a bit garbled as I don't know the exact language. Basically I know I pinch out the same bits on standard toms, so is it the same for chillies?

Thanks
1066

[Georgie]

Growing Chillies from seed for the 1st time, and looking at them now (about 8" high and doing fine on a sunny windowcill) do I pinch out the small bits of growth between the main stems - sorry if this is a bit garbled as I don't know the exact language. Basically I know I pinch out the same bits on standard toms, so is it the same for chillies?

Thanks
1066

Hi 1066.  I don't because I like nice bushy plants and it doesn't seem to affect the yield.

G x

[1066]

Thanks for the info Georgie, I'll leave them to their own devices then  :D

[Tee Gee]

This might help 1066

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Chilli/Chilli.htm

and no I don't pinch out my plants!

[1066]

Thanks Tee Gee
But according to your site you do do this
"Pinch out growing tips when plants reach reach (Your sp!) about a third of their potential height,e.g. 300mm (12”) for tall varieties"
1066

[Barnowl]

I think that's just the tip of the main stem and is done just the once to encourage bushing out (which is what I do for some if they're getting too tall and thin) but no doubt TeeGee will elucidate.

[Tee Gee]

But according to your site you do do this

oops!!

Its actually optional!

I used to do when I grew just a couple of plants to get more chillis per plant but now I grow so many plants I find I get enough without pinching out.

ps; I wrote that article about seven years ago perhaps it is in need of a liitle revision.

[1066]

Thanks both for the explanation  ;D  It was a bit cheeky of me I know.
But all the info I gain from everyone here really does help me understand why I'm doing things not just when and how.
So thanks again
1066

[Tee Gee]

Thanks Tee Gee
But according to your site you do do this
"Pinch out growing tips when plants reach reach (Your sp!) about a third of their potential height,e.g. 300mm (12”) for tall varieties"
1066

Thanks 1066 for the feed back it is appreciated.

When I wrote the article I only grew 'small' varieties in 5"/6" pots, varieties such as 'Habanero/Scotch bonnet come to mind.

In recent years I have taken to growing the larger varieties in the greenhouse border and I don't 'pinch' these out as a rule.

Unless that is; it is not growing as I would like it e.g. it is growing 'cordon' style rather than 'bush' style then I might pinch it out in such a case to encourage it to 'bush'

As a result of your observations I have now ammended the relative web pages.

Thanks again .......TG

[1066]

Thanks for the extra info Tee Gee
And there's nothing like user feedback is there eh?!  I'll go and have a look at the new page  :)

1066

Just had a quick look - looking good Tee Gee.
I was intereted in you comment
" Note; encouraging plants to produce more fruit may give you the desired quantity at the expense of quality. "
I think that could well be true of a number of veg, but that's another discussion....  :D
1066

[Borlotti]

My chillie seeds, free from Gardener's World magazine, from Mr Fothergill, the name on the seed packet is Pepcan are doing well in my leanto (gets very hot in there, but can open the back door to let some air in.  I can't eat hot peppers but will find a good home for them if they produce peppers.  I don't think I will put them outside (only if we get a very, very, hot June) but let them stay in the warm.  Got some flowers buckets/pots from Morrisons 8 for £1 so may be pot them on and see what happens.  So excited.

[1066]

So excited.

It is exciting isn't it! and  particularly as you got freebies even better :D