Caging Peppers

elliephant 4/10/2010, 1:33 pm

In another thread someone asked me why I cage my peppers. The truth is, I don't really know. I read that I should, so I did.

Do you cage your peppers? Why or why not? What have been your experiences?

I grew a couple of pepper plants in my little row garden in west Texas, but it was in the shade and they weren't very successful at all, so I really don't have any experience to speak of.

Retired Member 1 4/10/2010, 1:39 pm

I cage mine with a 2' high utility wire cage about 10" in diameter. Pepper plants are rather brittle and it doesn't take much to break the main stem off. I just feel it gives them better protection when they are young and doesn't interfere with harvesting.

Kabaju42 4/10/2010, 4:26 pm

I'll have to remember that. I haven't tried it before, but it makes sense.

Mikesgardn 4/10/2010, 5:47 pm

It's a good idea to surround each plant with a cage to support the plant and keep it from leaning into adjacent squares. I've used metal fencing fencing that came in a roll. It has 3"x3" openings, which allow you to pick the peppers through the fence. I bend it into a box shape about 12" high, leaving some prongs at the bottom that can be pushed into the ground. I also make a top for it using a piece of the fencing, or I use some wire to make a 3"x3" grid on the top. The pepper plant will grow right through the top, and the cage provides support for the bulk of the plant. I try to keep a few squares of peppers next to each other so that I can tie the cages together for more stability.

**timwardell** 4/10/2010, 11:51 pm

I've never caged my peppers... but now that I think about it, they've nearly always been in front of my tomatoes - with my tomatoes against the fence - in my 2' x 15' bed. Hmmm... I guess if they needed any support they leaned on the tomatoes. This year I've switched things up a bit and have some peppers growing on their own with only flowers in adjacent squares. We'll see how it goes. That's what I love about gardening. Every year is an experiment. Very Happy

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