You know, I can't stand it when people tell you that they are doing what they are supposed to do. Pinching is an advanced technique in horticulture....it's not something some people do and others don't. If you don't understand or care to understand then do what you do, but don't act like it's a ridiculous idea because then you are just being ignorant.
Mega....if you want your plants to vegetate and grow larger, then you want to pinch your buds. (as long as the growing season warrants it. If you don't have enough time left in the season, then you will want to let them run their course) If you started your plants indoors and they started budding and flowering while still small or before plant out. Then pinch them off as they pop up and the plant will continue to grow in size. This in the end will give you larger, more healthy fruit as well as more fruit per plant. (as long as your plants stay healthy)
Just do the research and take what advice works for you. I just found my White Habaneros and Jamaican Scotch Bonnets starting to produce their first little buds at around 53 days from seed to soil. The plants are around 10inches tall. I plan on pinching them off until I can transplant them outside in may. Once outside I will keep them vegged until they reach their mature size, then I will start fertilizing with a blooming formula and let them take off. Once the pods start ripening, if you harvest them regularly, it will promote the plant to continue putting out fruit until the growing season ends.
Good luck!
