Like all plants, peppers need regular pruning. Shortening the shoots results in numerous improvements in terms of growth and crop yield. Are you unsure about how many branches you can remove and where is the best place to start? No problem, you will find the answers in this article.
How do I prune my hot pepper plant correctly?
When cutting pepperoni, you should shorten the shoots to about 3 cm long and cut above a growth node to promote bushier growth and higher harvest yields. It is advisable to prune both after harvesting in autumn and after wintering.
What is the purpose of cutting back a pepperoni?
By cutting your pepperoni you achieve two effects:
- Preventing excessive growth
- a second harvest
Inhibiting growth
Some pepperoni varieties have a naturally tall growth. This could be annoying at some point, especially when kept in a bucket. Regular pruning will keep your peppers the desired size.
The Second Harvest
If you were able to bring in a generous yield in June, it is worth cutting back on the peppers. It is very likely that new flowers will form shortly, so that you can harvest delicious fruit again in autumn.
Length and technique when cutting a pepperoni
Cut length
It is recommended to shorten the pepperoni shoots to around 3 cm long. Removing the side shoots, known as thinning, is not recommended for pepperoni. Instead, you should choose a height of 30 cm as a guideline to cut the plant back. Experience has shown that it then shows bushier growth and rewards you with a higher harvest yield.
Technology
Place the secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon) above a growth node. In this way, you only remove the leaves, but do not cause any serious injuries to the plant. A special method of promoting the growth of a pepper is to remove the royal flower. This is the first flower to appear. If you cut these off, the plant can put more energy into overall growth instead of flower formation.
Pruning before and after winter
We recommend pruning after the harvest in late autumn, as well as caring topiary after wintering. Here too, cut off all shoots above the first node of a branch. Additionally, remove any twigs and leaves that have turned yellow over the winter.
