Pinching out peppers

[robsa]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that you need to pinch out peppers and chillis to encourage bushy plants.

I'm growing some Corno Di Toro peppers. They're in 4 inch pots at the moment on a windowsill, about 6 inches high with 8-10 true leaves. The stems are starting to thicken up and get those dark reddish stripes.

Should I pinch out the tips? If so, is this the right time to do it?

Robsa

[robsa]

[jennym]

Well, I don't pinch out the tips of peppers and get good crops - you could do some and see if there's a difference? I guess now would be about right.

[tim]

Google your title for some ideas?

I have never pinched out a pepper or aubergine. Don't know what I'm missing!!

[Tee Gee]

I think this is a 'variety' thing.

Dependant on the variety i.e. types I grow in pots that don't grow above say 12"-15" high I sometimes pinch out, similarly with types that have very small fruit.

Wiith the larger plants and bigger fruited varieties I find if pinched out, I get more fruit but of smaller size, similarly I get more 'bud drop' as the plant determines how many fruit/s it can cope with.

So I suppose the answer is either / or the choice is yours.