help what should i do with flowers?

tjg911 · February 17, 2012

i never grew peppers from seed before. on 9/25 i did a germination test on fatali seeds and ended up keeping 4 plants. they are under shop lights in pots that are 4" x 4" x5", the plants are 4-5" tall and appear to be forming flowers. i can't plant these out until memorial day in the ground but probably 5/1 in 5 gallon pails where i can take them into the garage at night.

should i pick off the flowers? seems like the right thing to do.

thanks,

tom

puttgirl · February 17, 2012

I heard a lot of people say they pinch off the first flowers anyway, but I never have. I personally would leave them alone. You may lose fruit and flowers when transplanting, but maybe not. I've planted plenty of peppers with flowers and tiny fruit and they didn't miss a beat.

janezee · February 18, 2012

The theory is that if you don't have the energy going into flowering, it's going into making stronger roots and stems.

lurley · February 18, 2012

Last year because the heavy continuous rain cause us to delay planting, many of my peppers were reaching close to 2 ft tall and still weren't in the ground. I don't normally remove any flowers that are present when I am close to plant out, like within a week, but since your plant out date is so far away I would go ahead and remove them now. I might also suggest pinching out the main growing tip once it reaches 12-18 inches tall. This will encourage side growth and bushiness, and thicken up the main stem. I pinched those that were getting too tall last spring while we were waiting to plant out, and they did appear to end up bushier and more productive than those I left on their own.

stormymater · February 19, 2012

what lurley says. I have began pruning all my pepper plants for side shoots & bushiness. Stouter plants w/heavier yields is what I am finding.

janezee · February 19, 2012

Oooo, goody. Keep those hints coming, because I'm full on this year, thanks to all my friends here who sent me seeds. I can't wait! They're getting planted this week. (or today)

tjg911 · February 19, 2012

thanks. seems reasonable to remove them based upon how long i have to go before i can put these outside but i wanted to be sure.

tom

February 17, 2012	#1
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	help what should i do with flowers? i never grew peppers from seed before. on 9/25 i did a germination test on fatali seeds and ended up keeping 4 plants. they are under shop lights in pots that are 4" x 4" x5", the plants are 4-5" tall and appear to be forming flowers. i can't plant these out until memorial day in the ground but probably 5/1 in 5 gallon pails where i can take them into the garage at night. should i pick off the flowers? seems like the right thing to do. thanks, tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

February 19, 2012	#7
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	thanks. seems reasonable to remove them based upon how long i have to go before i can put these outside but i wanted to be sure. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

February 17, 2012	#2
puttgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW PA Posts: 281	I heard a lot of people say they pinch off the first flowers anyway, but I never have. I personally would leave them alone. You may lose fruit and flowers when transplanting, but maybe not. I've planted plenty of peppers with flowers and tiny fruit and they didn't miss a beat.

February 18, 2012	#3
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	The theory is that if you don't have the energy going into flowering, it's going into making stronger roots and stems.

February 18, 2012	#4
lurley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 741	Last year because the heavy continuous rain cause us to delay planting, many of my peppers were reaching close to 2 ft tall and still weren't in the ground. I don't normally remove any flowers that are present when I am close to plant out, like within a week, but since your plant out date is so far away I would go ahead and remove them now. I might also suggest pinching out the main growing tip once it reaches 12-18 inches tall. This will encourage side growth and bushiness, and thicken up the main stem. I pinched those that were getting too tall last spring while we were waiting to plant out, and they did appear to end up bushier and more productive than those I left on their own.

February 19, 2012	#5
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	what lurley says. I have began pruning all my pepper plants for side shoots & bushiness. Stouter plants w/heavier yields is what I am finding.