Pruning pepper plants or removing early blossoms

Tbites 6/11/2012, 6:34 pm

We've been having very cool nights here lately (10-15 Celsius)... the real heat only started settling in this past week. Most of my plants have been much slower to grow than last year, particularly my peppers. A few of my pepper plants had early blooms shortly after transplanting so I snipped off the whole "pendant". Now again, a lot of the plants are showing blooms and I'm not sure if I should be removing the blooms or pruning them since they're still so young... heights varying from 8" to 15".

I watched some online videos about topping (snipping the main stem below the blooms) pepper plants to help them get bushier and increase yields. But, topping apparently shouldn't be done too late in the season so I'm thinking that may not be an alternative seeing as I'm in Zone 5 ?
Albino Peppers
Pruning pepper plants or removing early blossoms Pepperplants%2520004

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Jalapenos

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Red Bell

Pruning pepper plants or removing early blossoms Pepperplants%2520001

claudiamedic 6/11/2012, 6:51 pm

Besides a weed barrier, what's the purpose of the silver stuff (space blanket?)?

Tbites 6/11/2012, 6:52 pm

claudiamedic wrote:Besides a weed barrier, what's the purpose of the silver stuff (space blanket?)?

LOL, I want my plants to grow up to Mars Laughing

,tried red plastic for mulch last year to deter flea beetles. This year, I'm trying this alternative since it reflects light.

claudiamedic 6/11/2012, 7:01 pm

I wonder if it would keep the ground too cool since it reflects the heat rather than absorbing it.... but then the extra light on the leaves might be a plus. Interesting experiment! Very Happy

littlejo 6/11/2012, 7:47 pm

My bells put on bloom soon after planting, at about 4 to 6 in. tall. It was suggested that I leave the blooms alone. My plants are now about 12 to 16 in tall, and just pulled 2 peppers yesterday.

I don't know what to do about the flea beatles but, I think I'd put the plastic over the whole plant(in one piece) until you are ready to let the peppers get pollenated, then pull it off. The soil would warm up and the peppers would grow fast cause they like the heat. Maybe this would also keep the flea beatles at bay.

Jo

**camprn** 6/11/2012, 8:20 pm

I have a few questions...
How long ago did you place them in the garden? Did you use true Mel's Mix?

A few suggestions...
Pinch the top most growing tip of the red bell and the jalapeno, this will make more branches.

I also am a bit leery of the Mylar film keeping too much of the heat out of the ground... you really want to heat those babies up.

Tbites 6/11/2012, 8:36 pm

camprn wrote:I have a few questions...
How long ago did you place them in the garden? Did you use true Mel's Mix?

A few suggestions...
Pinch the top most growing tip of the red bell and the jalapeno, this will make more branches.

I also am a bit leery of the Mylar film keeping too much of the heat out of the ground... you really want to heat those babies up.

I was hoping you'd chime in.. Thank you Smile

Albino, Red Bell - May 20th
Jalapenos - somewhere between May 20th and 27th

Same Mel's Mix as last year's in 1 bed , added 1.5 litre of mixed compost (6)before transplant. Made a new batch for the second bed but following the same principles as last year. Only variable was the alpaca manure I picked up from a farm... it seemed to have a LOT of peat mixed into it, so I reduced the amount of peat in overall quantity when mixing.

I actually just put that Mylar film on today, figured the reflected light might also help them grow. We hit some heat today 80-90 F so would the soil really get that cool ?

When you say pinch the top, you mean topping like this guy does at 3:30 minutes I'm in 5b... a little worried my growing season is too short for this... no ?

**camprn** 6/11/2012, 9:49 pm

Yes, something like that. He takes off a bit more than I would, but the result will be a bigger bushier plant with a whole lot more blooms. Work your way down from the top of the plant and pinch just above the next set of leaves. I think I would pinch those lower blooms, but after that you should be good to go...
I would only do this on those ones that I mentioned, they have one main growing stem. The the others are already branching.

You can use this method to make other plants like basil, bushier. Very Happy

That way there will be more to harvest. cheers

I have not even got my pepper plants in yet Shocked

. This week, I swear I will put them in the garden this week... Wink

Tbites 6/11/2012, 9:55 pm

camprn wrote:Yes, something like that. He takes off a bit more than I would, but the result will be a bigger bushier plant with a whole lot more blooms. Work your way down from the top of the plant and pinch just above the next set of leaves. I think I would pinch those lower blooms, but after that you should be good to go...
I would only do this on those ones that I mentioned, they have one main growing stem. The the others are already branching.

You can use this method to make other plants like basil, bushier. That way there will be more to harvest.

I have not even got my pepper plants in yet . This week, I swear I will put them in the garden this week...

Between your explanation and the VISUAL from the video, I'll have the courage to SNIP affraid

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