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Looking for the non-toppers

austin87

austin87

I can find a lot of info on why to top, but can't find much info for the other side of the coin.

Those who don't top, why? Have you ever topped? If so, what made you stop?

This is my first year growing. My seeds have begun sprouting so I'm still a ways off, but like to get as much info as possible.

Thanks all!
 
The long Aridzona growing season, coupled with the heat-induced summer flower shutdown, means the plants are monsters by the time they get serious about setting fruit in late August.  Topping in the spring would just slow them down a week or so.  Why bother? 
 
I pinched the tops of my plants to promote shoot growth and to prevent them from flowering early. They were starting to flower at 10 inches.  Do to persistent warm weather, they are still putting out flowers on the new nodes. I will continue to cut them off. Since I planted late in the season, I don't want them to flower untill the next. By then, there should be plenty of nodes and I should get lots of rewards :party:
 
sirex said:
Topping induces more side growth, which in turn promotes more nodes. More nodes = more pods. So down here in FL those second year plants can produce major poddage. As a result of topping.
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Have you ever done a side by side of the same variety? I haven't gotten the sense that many toppers have tried both ways....
 
I did a side by side with Peach Wasps. One Dwc and the other soil. The dwc I topped and the soil I left alone. Both inside under 1k hps. The untopped soil plant was double the height of the topped one but started to lean over a bit. Its similar to when you see an indoor cat( Topped dwc) to a stray cat (soil untopped). Just looks stringy and not as good. Also the dwc has 4 extra nodes off of the main stem that I know will get huge. The untopped one has just one.   I give the advantage to the topped plant. The soil is also receiving ph'd water and nutes
 
Last year I didn't top, and had to add lots of stakes to hold up the plants but still had some breakages. This year I did top and needed 0-1 stake per plant and none have broken. It's very windy where I keep them.. bushier topped plants handle wind much better. As for production I don't know what's better.
 
Your cat analogy gives me a perfect visual. Thanks!
 
Xpur3log1cX said:
I did a side by side with Peach Wasps. One Dwc and the other soil. The dwc I topped and the soil I left alone. Both inside under 1k hps. The untopped soil plant was double the height of the topped one but started to lean over a bit. Its similar to when you see an indoor cat( Topped dwc) to a stray cat (soil untopped). Just looks stringy and not as good. Also the dwc has 4 extra nodes off of the main stem that I know will get huge. The untopped one has just one.   I give the advantage to the topped plant. The soil is also receiving ph'd water and nutes
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austin87 said:
Your cat analogy gives me a perfect visual. Thanks!
 
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:) Anytime bud, I wish I had some pictures for you. I'll take some tonight. You would be surprised. Started both at the same time. I had been growing soil for a while, and of course growth was slower and never topped. Had a good buddy of mine go dwc and of course his looked healthier and didn't take anywhere near as long. Mine were tall and stringy and put out a few pods and his were dumping them out. Very amazed at the difference.
 
I only top when I need to due to space issues when starting plants indoors. Our growing season is too short here to make topping worthwhile otherwise.
 
Indoors, I top so I can keep an equal distance to lights.  Also, to make clones.

Outdoors, seems like the benefit would be saving vertical space and consuming horizontal space.  Maybe if you have a few plants growing on a balcony and you want them to fill in space?
 
I topped 2 of my 5, the two are very slow growing, the other three have been flowering like mad and 2 are beasts while one is small since it was in a tiny container and had poor soil(transplanted it yesterday)...They are indoors no special lights, just window light, one has a pepper. We will see what happens when they can get some spring/summer light and warmth...
 
First year I topped. Next year after reading higher yields with untopped I didn't top.. at first... once the plants got outdoors and the wind hit them they were not prepared at all. I quickly topped them all and they stiffened right up. Now I try to plant earlier so I can top and not lose any time as Michigan grow season is very short.

I literally just sat down from topping my Reaper. Its the second time it has been topped. It is now 23 and a half inches tall with a month to go before last frost.

I top, Michigan season is short, but if I had a good long grow season oike arizona or florida, I wouldnt. I would make some custom tomato cages or something
 
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