NIce post - I can remember as a small boy in Louisiana putting in the corn or pea seeds down the row my Daddy had made after tilling with a old Sears walk behind, with him following along behind me with a hoe covering them up... getting told about it if I spaced them too far or too short! Great...
Maybe topped too soon before the plant had enough height? I usually wait to top until my plants until it is at least is as tall as the container that it is in - but I have a year long growing season... might not be viable for your conditions... looks like yours are growing out and out, not much...
Tabasco Hot Sauce! Yeah, I to have noticed a change in the consistency of Tabasco Hot Sauce over the years - I think its because the company now exports their seeds to Central and South America for growers to grow their peppers for some of their hot sauce... a bottle of Tabasco today contains...