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Chilli pinching

KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
in Fruit & veg
Is this Chilli plant the right size for pinching out the main growth shoot, or does it need to be bigger?

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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I can't ever remember pinching out the top of a chili plant.
    I've grown several varieties over the years and I find after they've grown a bit they naturally split into 2 stems at the top

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited April 2021
    Like @Pete.8  I’ve never pinched any of mine out either. They’ve never seemed to need it. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's already making side-shoots all by itself.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    I had read that it makes for a bushier and more productive plant, but I'll ignore that, and follow your various advice.  
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    @KeenOnGreen I think that sort of advice comes from countries where they can grow them outdoors, or in a heated GHs for most of the year (being perennials, in some countries, they grow outside all year round.)  The growing season is far too short in the UK to try this and I have never pinched-out any capsicum species as they naturally bush out at every node anyway, usually with either 2 or more commonly 3 more shoots forming.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    No advice to offer @KeenOnGreen but looking good. Certainly further on than mine.

    Just curious, how many times have you potted on and what size pot are they in at the moment?
    East Lancs
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    @Biglad   I only potted them on once.  They are in 1 litre pots.  
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    Thanks @KeenOnGreen. I may have missed a trick when I put them in small pots a few days ago :o 
    East Lancs
  • Captain_ChaosCaptain_Chaos Posts: 60
    Wow!  My chilis are still tiny seedlings. I planted six in a take-away tray. Am thinking it might be time to move them on to individual small pots.
    Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    I started mine about 2 months ago, on a south-facing windowsill, above a radiator.  I waited until they had four good--sized true leaves before potting them up.  Don't rush to pot them up @Captain_Chaos , especially if they only have their seed leaves at the moment.

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