peppers too crowded, eggplant leaves too big

Robind 7/26/2013, 11:26 am

I planted my peppers too close together, I think, and too close to the eggplant. I am planning to prune the lower leaves from my eggplants. They are quite big. Now the top of my peppers are flowering so I think it is too late to cut them down. I didn't know you could or should until this week. What experience does anyone have with this?

**RoOsTeR** 7/26/2013, 11:31 am

How many did you plant per square? Recommended spacing at one per square for these plants has worked for me Wink

**jimmy cee** 7/26/2013, 9:43 pm

The fellow (owner) at the feed & supply store where I buy some plants has told me in past years "peppers like to be touching each other"
Whether or not this is fact, it's working for me.
I've stuck with this spacing, this year in my first SFG bed, I planted 2 plants per square.
Now I am having a problem with sunlight not penetrating because of other plants crowding them out.
The plants still look good and I am waiting to be able to open them up, however everything is going so good this year I'm not changing anything.
I have always kept the area under my peppers free and open as I do my tomatoes

**camprn** 7/26/2013, 9:50 pm

Yeah Jimmy, I also find that they like to touch each other. I plant one per sq. foot and then when the plants reach 12"-14" tall I pinch out the top most growing tip and the plants bush out. and seem quite comfortable, producing quite well.

**jimmy cee** 7/27/2013, 10:09 am

camprn
I'll try that this year ( pinching the top )
may help to keep them upright

**RoOsTeR** 7/27/2013, 10:18 am

Jimmy, I took camps advice this year and have been super pleased so far. My pepper plants aren't as tall and flimsy and easily blown around in our high winds. They are a bit more compact and bushy. I was a bit skeptical at first lopping off nice, lush green, healthy tops. But it will be common practice for me from now on Very Happy

peppers too crowded, eggplant leaves too big 20130726_060413_zps541a51d5

**camprn** 7/27/2013, 11:42 am

jimmy cee wrote:camprn
I'll try that this year ( pinching the top )
may help to keep them upright

I typically have to offer stake support to my pepper plants. WOW Rooster, those plants look nice and healthy!

Robind 7/28/2013, 10:45 am

Thanks for the input all

I planted 1 per square, but they are behind my eggplants which are at the south end. And I planted 2 rows of peppers, though I did put parsley at the east square of the second row and my peas are at the west end so the peppers are in the center two squares, going 3 rows back from the south. Today I am pulling out the parsley and placing one of the peppers there, the smallest one that seems to be doing the worst.

My eggplants are going great, but I think I will cut the bottom leaves off that are ramming into the peppers.

I have also read that topping suggestion elsewhere, for the peppers and am going to try it.

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