Why you need to pinch peppers and how to do it

Each summer resident has a variety of pepper, which he considers the best and most fruitful. But the yield depends not only on the characteristics inherent in the variety, but also on the full care of it. One of the important stages of cultivation is the pinching of bushes.

Pepper. The illustration for the article is used under the standard license ©ofazende.com

Purpose of pinching

Removing the top points of growth so that the plant stops reaching up is one of the stages in the formation of a culture. It is carried out simultaneously with pinching - removing excess shoots.

The main purposes of pinching include:

• limiting the growth of branches so that nutrients go to the formation of fruits;
• ensuring proper ventilation and illumination of plants;
• stimulation of accelerated maturation.

There is no unambiguous opinion whether it is worth pinching the tops. To make the right decision, you need to understand in what situations the procedure is necessary.

When to pinch

Whether or not to take actions that limit the growth of a crop, the following factors help me:

1. Sort. Tall bushes require mandatory formation. Undersized ones are quite compact in themselves, which means that they do not need pinching and pinching.
2. Weather. An excessively wet season requires mandatory shaping. The event will help to avoid the spread of fungal infections. In hot and dry summers, I do not remove foliage and branches. They protect fruits from scorching rays and reduce the evaporation of moisture from the soil.

I recommend pinching between waterings. It is optimal that after and before irrigation, 1-2 days pass.

Rules for pinching

I carry out the procedure for the formation of bushes in stages.

1. As soon as the plants reach a height of 20-25 cm, I remove the first bud that appears on them. It contains substances that inhibit the development of subsequent ovaries. I leave a bud only if I'm going to collect seeds from a grown fruit.
2. I form skeletal branches. I remove all side shoots that will interfere with development.
3. I study the characteristics of the variety, specifically how many fruits one bush can produce. After the appearance of the required number of ovaries, I cut off the tops of the shoots.
4. I completely remove all shoots growing below the first branching of the bushes. They do not bear fruit, so you should not regret it.

I want to draw your attention to the basic rules for pinching.

1. The procedure can only be carried out on completely healthy and strong bushes.
2. It is best to carry out the formation in calm, calm weather. To avoid sunburn, I work in the late afternoon.
3. I use only sharply sharpened, disinfected tools. You can use a knife, scissors, secateurs.
4. All shoots without flowers and ovaries are to be removed.
5. I sprinkle the cut points on the plants with crushed activated carbon.
6. I take out all the cut branches and leaves from the site and burn them.

Pinching is a procedure that will allow you to redirect nutrients to the fruits. Carried out correctly and on time, will allow you to enjoy the maximum possible amount of high quality harvest.

In the comments, you can leave your opinion on the formation of pepper bushes. Tell how and when you carry out this procedure.

Read also: Pepper Hercules: the subtleties of growing and caring for the variety

Another related article: How to properly water peppers in a greenhouse

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