SB-
A cart full of pepper plants in 2 gallon pots just waiting for a bigger permanent spot. Just look at all those pods hanging around them! NOTICE TO ANYONE THAT PINCHES THEIR FLOWERS OFF, you cannot get pods like this without the flowers. If you do not starve the plant it can make pods and grow at the same time........just like in nature.. .
PaulG-
I waffle on this issue, 'Biker. I hav had good
luck pinching the stalk crown and first node
flowers, and every other node after that. In my
garage, most plants drop most of the early flowers
anyway, whether I pinch or not. Always an exception
or two, but that seems to be the general rule.
You grow looks great this season.
SB-
In 40 years of gardening I have let the plant decide. The only plants that give me any noticeable early flower drop are the rocotos, but once they decide to stick.......its off to the pepper races!
I had an uncle who grew impressive vegetable gardens when I was much younger. He told me once that he'd wait til the plants fruited, whether it be peas, beans, peppers, even tomatoes, and would pick the plants clean once when the early stuff was small. He said it made the plants "panic" into over-producing. He died at the ripe old age of 92 or 93, and had a garden in his back yard when he passed. If that isn't sage experienced advice, there ain't no...I've done it with pole beans, and gotta say it does work, for pole beans, anyway. Never was able to talk myself into trying it with my peppers or toms, but maybe it's worth an experiment...
