There are several reasons you may want to prune peppers. One reason is to help the pepper plants develop stronger, sturdier stems. Another reason is to force or create a bushier plant with more side shoots, which leads to more flowers and potentially more peppers.
How to prune Pepper Plants
. Pruning can be done many ways. This is just one way I prefer
. Pruning or topping off of the growth-tip is fairly simple. Just remove the top of the pepper.
. Topping off or pruning pepper plants helps handle high wind seasons and greater support heavy pepper crops. With a stronger stem, your pepper plants can experience less breaking.
. Various reasons are presented as to why pruning peppers may be needed. One of them is helping the plants develop sturdier stems. On the other hand, homeowners want to make or force a bushier pepper plant with more side shoots. This eventually results in more flowers and, possibly, more peppers.
. This is just one way I prefer, it is so simple and easy, and soon you will have a bushier plant with more side shoots. Your pruned plant will grow upward, it won't remain stunted, as new growing tips take over.
. Hardening off.
In order to give your pepper plants the best chance of success, it is best to ‘harden them off’ prior to leaving them outside full time. About 7 days before planting your pepper plants outdoors, help acclimate them to temperatures, sunlight, and wind. This is the process of hardening off, or gradually acclimating your new plants to outdoor conditions. These plants have spent their short lives in a warm, sunny, protected place and won't fare well if you don't expose them slowly to the elements. Before you intend to plant, put your transplants outdoors in an area where they'll be protected from the direct sunlight and wind. Leave them out for a few hours and bring them back inside. Repeat this each day, gradually increasing the amount of time they're outside and the degree of exposure to sun and wind. Gradual exposure helps your plants toughen up and reduces the possibility of injury. With proper hardening off, they’ll have an easier transition to the garden and begin producing peppers sooner.
. Pruning your pepper plants will help your plants produce larger fruit, and a larger harvest as well.
. This pruning technique can be applied to any type of pepper plant.
If you have any tips for pruning peppers, we'd love to hear them - please share them in the comments section below.
Happy Organic Gardening!
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