For those of you who don't know Praxxus on youtube, he is a real down to earth simple gardener with videos on how to do everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiO8xrYQeys
One of his series focuses on his peppers and how he prunes them to be balances and self supporting no matter how many peppers are on the plant. He ends up with a trinidad pepper plant that is like 4' tall and 3.5' in diameter. (I think he has pruned it to the shape of a tree now) Any way I have started this method on my ghost pepper and jalapeno plants. It seems to be working well.
That do you think?
Here is the Ghost pepper plant with the side shoots
This is a Jalapeno where you can see the side shoots turning into full new branches
Here was the day of the scalping... See the pile of clipped pepper plants?
- IndyGerdener
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- applestar
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You might be interested in this link which was posted here a couple of years ago -- when did I post in the Winter Pepper Torture thread? This was what convinced me that it would be possible to overwinter pepper plants.
https://www.fatalii.net/growing/index.ph ... Itemid=105
Keep us updated with your progress.
https://www.fatalii.net/growing/index.ph ... Itemid=105
Keep us updated with your progress.
- cedillamuerta
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I love Praxxus' videos and his pepper pruning method looks awesome. I'm going to prune some of my peppers in the same manner as soon as they get tall enough. Then I'll compare them to the unpruned individuals and see if it worked out better. I hope to end up with a couple of pepper "trees" in the backyard. I wonder if this method will work on bells, though. He does all of his videos on smaller and lighter peppers.
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But blooming and fruiting may be delayed after severe pruning.
I think timing might be critical. May not be an issue if you have long growing season, Also not as much of an issue if you are treating them as perennials indoors or out.
I'm almost ready to resurrect my overwintered dormant peppers, and they will be pruned to near sticks.
I think timing might be critical. May not be an issue if you have long growing season, Also not as much of an issue if you are treating them as perennials indoors or out.
I'm almost ready to resurrect my overwintered dormant peppers, and they will be pruned to near sticks.
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Just planted them on the 4th.. No seedlings yet as you can expect. I ran out of room when I couldnt use my greenhouse. I was on hold for planting personal plants. I have up pots ordered too so no room and no pots shouldnt be a problem!! How about your scotch bonnets? Did I send you banana peppers too
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I have not done much experimenting, but I have seen a bigger reaction after the plant is 6"-12" tall. The side leaves start to grow right before I cut the plant back. I also have been cutting more than just the growing tip.
I wait until the plant is 8" ish and cut it down to 1" above the 4th leaf from the bottom. I know there are others that cut all the leaves off, but My plants grow well with 4 full sized leaves left on. I am concerned that cutting the plant to early can stunt it's growth. as well as I like the center stalks to be as bulky as possible.
My plants are back to around 12" tall and are flowering like crazy. I have been trying to keep up and keep picking the flowers so the plants can just get bigger and therefore produce more pods later in the year!!
I wait until the plant is 8" ish and cut it down to 1" above the 4th leaf from the bottom. I know there are others that cut all the leaves off, but My plants grow well with 4 full sized leaves left on. I am concerned that cutting the plant to early can stunt it's growth. as well as I like the center stalks to be as bulky as possible.
My plants are back to around 12" tall and are flowering like crazy. I have been trying to keep up and keep picking the flowers so the plants can just get bigger and therefore produce more pods later in the year!!
This looks interesting, but You probably need to plan way ahead and start your seeds 12+ weeks ahead of the last frost. Are you guys keeping the plants in a container or into the ground? I'm doing square foot gardening, so I'm guessing this probably doesn't make sense for me. I would love to try it and see if there is a difference.
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I count 4 leaves from the bottom of the main branch I am trimming. Wherever that may land is where I cut. This gives the plant 4 locations to start the 2 new main branches.
The branches start in the leaf arm pit. so the more you have the more spots to grow. Just remember you are topping the plant to make it more stable and bushier, So cutting it to high will not lower the center of gravity as much.
There is another local guy by me that cuts his plants down to just the main stalk, and removes all leaves. Yes he lost some plants, but a small %, and the ones that survived are AMAZING!!
The branches start in the leaf arm pit. so the more you have the more spots to grow. Just remember you are topping the plant to make it more stable and bushier, So cutting it to high will not lower the center of gravity as much.
There is another local guy by me that cuts his plants down to just the main stalk, and removes all leaves. Yes he lost some plants, but a small %, and the ones that survived are AMAZING!!
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This reminded me to try that pruning method this year so I planted some California Bells to try it on. It might be a bit early but I know they need extra time when pruning them like this and even though they are out in the greenhouse it might still be a little cold. Though the cayenne is blooming so maybe not.
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So I took some pictures
Here they are in November after first pruning.
And tonight just about ready for the third cut!
Here is the bush
And the framework under neath when I have some time I will clean it up down there help my pepper bush go out instead of in. I had to remove the flowers as the plant was not tall enough for pruning and flowers were coming out of everywhere
Here they are in November after first pruning.
And tonight just about ready for the third cut!
Here is the bush
And the framework under neath when I have some time I will clean it up down there help my pepper bush go out instead of in. I had to remove the flowers as the plant was not tall enough for pruning and flowers were coming out of everywhere