Small Pepper Plants

HieronRemade 6/1/2012, 1:58 pm

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick question for those more experienced than I. My pepper plants are growing pretty slowly (I'd say they're still under 1 ft. tall), but most of them are putting out blooms already. Should I pull them off to encourage the plants to focus on growing a little bigger first or just let them go? Thanks for any opinions/advice, I really appreciate it!

Mike

**rowena___.** 6/1/2012, 2:28 pm

it is a matter of opinion, but i never pinch blooms unless forced to do so.

littlesapphire 6/1/2012, 2:30 pm

My peppers look the same way, and they always do! And never pinch blossoms. Then again, I always have a terrible pepper yield each year, lol (maybe a few peppers per plant). Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

HieronRemade 6/1/2012, 2:38 pm

Yah I asked on Yahoo answers too and they're all saying not to there as well. I just don't want to get a few half-sized peppers off each plant you know? I can't imagine that the tiny plants will be able to support even that though, lol. Well I picked up some Jobe's organic fertilizer and despite the high compost-content of my MM, I'll see if that helps them shoot up.

Thanks for the advice everyone; if anyone else wants to weigh in I'm all ears.

**rowena___.** 6/1/2012, 2:39 pm

it is still very early for good pepper plants. they like long, hot days and they like to be on the dry side. give them time.

quiltbea 6/1/2012, 3:05 pm

I'm also in 5a and last year the most productive of my sweet peppers was Feherozon Dwarf in a pot which gave me 6 lovely normal-sized peppers. The others in the raised beds gave me even less. My zone is not conducive to growing peppers. I think I rush them into the ground too soon and our nights are always cool til August, so growth isn't great. This year I transplanted them when the soil heated up enough, but wouldn't you know it, our nights have been dropping into the 40s the last 2 and for the next week the same is expected. My eggplants are still waiting for 60* nights to get transplanted outdoors. So I always consider it a bonus, whatever I can get from these 2 plants, knowing it won't be much.

Small Pepper Plants 08-20-12

One of my two potted Feherozon Dwarf last Aug 20th.

littlesapphire 6/1/2012, 4:03 pm

Oh QB! I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one with the pepper problem. California wonders always do terrible for me. The only plant I had any luck with last year was a banana pepper (probably got a dozen peppers from it). This year I decided to try an heirloom variety from Seed Savers called King of the North. They're supposed to be better for northern growers. I guess we'll see!

Also, I decided not to wait for 60 degree nights for planting my eggplants, since we don't usually get those til August, lol.

HieronRemade 6/1/2012, 4:17 pm

Thanks for the insights everyone...It's true it is early in the season for me. I think my problem is that I planted some Roma plants of the same size at the same time as the peppers, and they're easily over 2 feet high and across with nice, stocky center stems, thick beautiful foliage, and lots of blooms in the works. I would say that that's because they're in 5-gallon buckets and the peppers are each in a square of my SFG, but I don't think the peppers are big enough to be competing for each other's space yet, lol. I guess I just need to remember that they're totally different plants!

quiltbea 6/1/2012, 5:15 pm

My tomatoes are doing wonderfully well in the growing dept whereas peppers in the same bed are still about as small as when transplanted.

Small Pepper Plants 06-01-11

Here's a comparison. Velvet Red toms left front transplanted 5/15 with asstd sweet peppers in the middle of the bed transplanted from 5/17 to 24. Peppers just need it warmer.

HieronRemade 6/1/2012, 6:40 pm

Ha wow Bea, that is exactly what I needed to see. I guess I've just been feeling like I must be doing something wrong w/ these peppers, but I guess I really do just need to let them take their time. Thanks for the visual aid!

tabletopper 6/2/2012, 5:14 am

Here in Southern Calif.....we have coastal overcast......or May Grey....and now June Gloom....my peppers arent doing anything either....so I think I will make a lil plastic greenhouse like Mels idea...held together with clothes pins....worth a try....Ruth

hruten 6/2/2012, 7:12 am

There's light around the corner. Just as a note... my peppers have doubled in size this week. They were still in the larger transplant stage. I do have clear water tents around them and that seems to have helped the heat factor. I wish I could buy patience in a bottle I can't wait for my stuff to mature grrrr hungry... Very Happy

herblover 6/2/2012, 7:29 am

I have the magic touch with peppers! They love my SFG and I always have a huge yield. Last year I had 200 fruit from 1 jalapeno! I will probably be picking from the one I planted last week in a few days; there are 2 that will be ready shortly. Our weather has been perfect for them but has cooled off in the past day or so. I live in zone 6a which used to be 5b.

mijejo 6/2/2012, 7:59 am

herblover, what methods do you use with your peppers? Although I am a huge lover of them, I did not have much luck growing them last year. This year, I have a few with very tiny fruit, more in the flower stage, and plenty struggling along - some with most of their leaves chewed off. Considering we are both in Ohio, and I have the advantage in being in a slightly warmer zone, if I mimic your methods, I may have a decent yield. Well, one can only hope . . .

CapeCoddess 6/2/2012, 8:07 am

I've been wondering if I'm to pinch the first flowers or not also. I read that we should in order to get a higher yield. I haven't put in my 6 transplants yet. We've only had not even a handful of days over 70. Today is 56 & rainy. But when I ever get them planted and get some flowers, maybe I'll do an experiment and pinch 3 and leave 3. I'll let everyone know what happens.

**camprn** 6/2/2012, 9:36 am

If the plants are under 12' tall I pinch blooms. At about that height, I also pinch the terminal (growing) tips to encourage more bushy growth of the plant.

Green Thumb 6/2/2012, 10:40 am

I had the same problem with spindly plants. I talked to the local Ga Agriculture Extension office about the problem. The feedback I received was as follows:

Set out plants when soil is warm and don't base it on air temperature. Typically this is 2-3 weeks after the last frost

Avoid using fertilizers like Miracle Grow. This type generates nice foliage but hinders fruit growth

Use an organic fertilizer like E.B. Stone's Tomato and Vegetable Food 4-5-3

My plants are now on the way to producing fruit.

HieronRemade 6/2/2012, 11:02 am

herblover wrote:I have the magic touch with peppers!

Hey I'm in OH as well so give me all your magical secrets! Razz

Seriously though, anything special that you do? This is my 3rd year gardening, 2nd doing SFG. My first year w/ a regular garden I had TONS of jalapenos (I'm on my last jar of them atm, almost 2 years later, and I eat a LOT of pico and guac!) and cayennes and not as many bells but enough to fill a gallon ziplock bag w/ the slices. Last year in my SFG (granted weather/rain here were HORRIBLE), my peppers were abysmal. The handful of bells were walnut-sized, and I got enough jalapenos to fill like half a mason jar w/ slices. Now, my bed had settled so much that it was probably little more than half full, so I've cannibalized some of it to make sure what's left is full, but I would still love any tips from someone who's been successful with peppers in an SFG!

HieronRemade 6/2/2012, 11:06 am

Argh I was settled to leave them be but now I have people saying to pinch them! O.o I guess it is a matter of opinion and I have to decide, lol.

Hey Green I actually did just pick up Jobe's organic fertilizer for Tomatoes & Vegetables, it's 2-7-4. Does that sound alright? The product had great reviews but I'm not sure about peppers specifically.

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