2021 Peppers

[digitS']

@Gardening with Rabbits , I can't imagine them not being worth keeping. I'd be very inclined to remove flowers when setting out.

This is the first year that I can remember up-potting peppers out of cell packs and into pots. Maybe it's because they have so many poor garden years that I don't consider it worth the bother - a "secondary" crop. Maybe it's because I don't hardly understand peppers. You know, success makes things clearer - ideas on how to repeat it. My success, every now and then, is just attributed to what must have been a favorable weather year and I am not always clear about that.

Root space. I have a few peppers in 3 and 2 packs instead of 4 packs. They look like they appreciate the room. Let's see how they do in the 3 1/2" pots that some went in, yesterday. (The little Thai Hots will likely stay in the 4 packs.)

Best of Luck,
Steve

 

[Artichoke Lover]

My first pepper plants are starting to get flowers. Are they going to be stunted? If I put in larger pots will that help? I have younger ones that will be the right size when it is time to go out. I am almost tempted just to plant them in the ground and cover with plastic. Are they worth keeping?

I’d pinch that set of flowers off. It will take energy from the transplants.

 

[Zeedman]

My first pepper plants are starting to get flowers. Are they going to be stunted? If I put in larger pots will that help? I have younger ones that will be the right size when it is time to go out. I am almost tempted just to plant them in the ground and cover with plastic. Are they worth keeping?

Definitely worth keeping, but they should be potted up into larger containers to avoid stunting. I concur with the recommendations to remove flowers, and especially any peppers which may have formed. Those peppers will stunt the growth of the young plants, perhaps severely (stated from experience). It would be best to continue pinching off open flowers until the peppers have been transplanted.

 

[heirloomgal]

My first pepper plants are starting to get flowers. Are they going to be stunted? If I put in larger pots will that help? I have younger ones that will be the right size when it is time to go out. I am almost tempted just to plant them in the ground and cover with plastic. Are they worth keeping?

I almost always wind up with flowering pepper plants in starter pots because I start them early in the year, sometimes December or January. I just pick them off; I find that it actually helps my pepper plants because the plant interprets the flower pinching the way they do to pruning, especially if the flowers haven't fully opened yet. You just get more branching going on with the plant, which in the end will be a benefit to production. I prune the tips of all the plants a couple times, with or without flowers.

Being in a bit of a shorter season area, I've experimented a lot with starting pepper seeds at different times of year, and my ultimate conclusion is the bigger the plant when you set it out, the more peppers you will get, and sooner. Some years now by June 1st my peppers are the size of large houseplants. I'm not sure your seasonal temps, but when I've planted anything out early, and covered with a plastic cloche, if it is cool for too long the stems harden and they never grown well again. I'd keep 'em and just wait. If they aren't super root bound, they might be alright in the pots.

Here's a couple of my bell peppers that need the flowers pinched, that I've been pruning for the sake of branching for the last while. They start out shaggy, but blossom into full, leafy, well branched plants.
At least, that's been my experience..

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

Okay, I feel better about it. I have been pinching the flowers off. I will start transplanting tomorrow in bigger containers. Thank you!

 

[Zeedman]

I almost always wind up with flowering pepper plants in starter pots because I start them early in the year, sometimes December or January. I just pick them off; I find that it actually helps my pepper plants because the plant interprets the flower pinching the way they do to pruning, especially if the flowers haven't fully opened yet. You just get more branching going on with the plant, which in the end will be a benefit to production. I prune the tips of all the plants a couple times, with or without flowers.

Being in a bit of a shorter season area, I've experimented a lot with starting pepper seeds at different times of year, and my ultimate conclusion is the bigger the plant when you set it out, the more peppers you will get, and sooner. Some years now by June 1st my peppers are the size of large houseplants. I'm not sure your seasonal temps, but when I've planted anything out early, and covered with a plastic cloche, if it is cool for too long the stems harden and they never grown well again. I'd keep 'em and just wait. If they aren't super root bound, they might be alright in the pots.

Here's a couple of my bell peppers that need the flowers pinched, that I've been pruning for the sake of branching for the last while. They start out shaggy, but blossom into full, leafy, well branched plants.
At least, that's been my experience..
View attachment 40261
View attachment 40263

Wow! At first glance, I thought the first photo was a tomato plant. Wish I could let mine get that big, but I'd need to convert an entire room to hold them, or add heat to the greenhouse.

 

[heirloomgal]

Wow! At first glance, I thought the first photo was a tomato plant. Wish I could let mine get that big, but I'd need to convert an entire room to hold them, or add heat to the greenhouse.

Space is always at a premium around here too! But peppers can do very well in a nice south facing window! When I run out of grow light room, I start hogging up the windows...

 

[HmooseK]

I’m growing Corno Di Toro, Giant Marconi and something called Salsariffic.

 

[Zeedman]

I’m growing Corno Di Toro, Giant Marconi and something called Salsariffic.

Corno di Toro appears to be a nice pepper, I plan to trial it in the next year or two. Which Salsariffic are you growing? I looked those up; "Salsariffic" appears to be more of a brand name by a site operator, which is attached to 6 different pepper varieties. I would guess that you are growing one of the jalapenos?

 

[HmooseK]

@Zeedman thats going to be my guess too. It came from a big box store. It’s one of the Chef Jeff specials. Haha