orgoveg
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Location: Ohio

pepper rookie question

I just bought one "better bell" pepper plant and one cayenne plant. They are both tall and thin. Both have flowers. The bell pepper has a fruit beginning to emerge and the cayenne has a half-grown fruit on it. They were quite rootbound, too. I got them because they were dirt cheap and they are better than what I have now (no peppers).

They're already in the ground. Should I cut the fruits off or leave them be?

Also, I usually go heavy on the water for a few days after transplanting things. Same with peppers?

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veteran
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Location: Zone 9

I am big on letting nature run it's course. Just my 2 cents. Would someone be trimming it if it was growing in nature?

orgoveg
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Yeah, that largely makes sense to me. However, if it was growing in nature, it wouldn't have been transplanted after being rootbound in a small pot :)

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Avonnow
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I am only telling you what I did and I am not a expert. First I bought two peppers plants from local nursery - A Good Nursery. End of season one was totally loaded with hot peppers - I mean that is why I got it. I thought I couldn't buy all these peppers for the price of plant. When I came home I DID cut some of them off (there had to be 50 on it) Jalapenos. Then I transplanted it, it has been a super producer Put some fertilizer in soil when I repotted it and for first week or 10 days I did water every other day. They I laid off water - because I know from experience too much water is death to peppers - I have killed so many. The other pepper was a banana pepper - also had about 8 peppers - did same thing cut some off and used them and both plants are still doing well. Not sure if it has anything to do with me, the nursery does have a good reputation. But cutting fruit off did not harm. I have been told you should never buy a small plant with fruit on it already, in both these cases, I was willing to take lose as the amount of fruit on them was worth the cost, and they both turned out well. You have nothing to lose. Good Luck.

orgoveg
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Location: Ohio

Well, that experience sounds good to me. Thanks. I'll leave them alone, water good, and then back off the water.

You're right - I have nothing to lose :)



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