Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Prune early in the season
• Method 2 of 2: Prune later in the season
• Tips
• Warnings

Pepper plants produce delicious and often spicy vegetables called paprika, which are grown all over the world. Different types of pepper plants can produce a wide variety of peppers, but in general the plants require much the same basic care. While it is not necessary to prune your pepper plant to get peppers, regular and careful pruning can result in a stronger plant and greater yield.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Prune early in the season

1. When you first prune the pepper plant, use your fingers or a pair of small shears. Early in your pepper plant's life, it may be easier to use your hand, instead of pruning shears, to pinch off unwanted stems and buds. Push your index finger and thumbnail together where you want to remove something from the plant until you feel the stem break. Then gently and carefully remove the unwanted part of the plant.
   • If you're pruning with your hand, dip your fingers in a solution of powdered milk and water when you start working on another plant. The protein in the milk solution can inactivate viruses and bacteria, which would otherwise be spread between different plants.
2. Start pruning when your pepper plant is about 12 inches tall. Remove the top half of the plant, making sure to leave a few leaves on the plant. The plant should already have a good root system at this point, which it will use to quickly strengthen the remaining stem and produce new buds.
   • The central stem of most pepper plants is likely to have a Y shape when the plant has reached this height. Make sure the point where you start pruning is above the Y, as this will be the base of your new pepper plant. Pruning away excess foliage at this stage will encourage the plant to strengthen its base.
3. Trim excess leaves and stems from each eye. Eyes are parts of a stem where new leaves and stems can develop. If these areas appear to be overcrowded or underdeveloped, prune them. Although it may seem a bit fierce, limiting leaf production will allow the leaves you are left to develop fully. It also stimulates further stem growth.
   • If you only leave a few leaves per eye early in the growing season, try to leave a little more in as the season progresses. By the middle or end of the growing season, the structure of the stem should be quite strong and leaving more leaves on will allow the plant to absorb more light. In addition, the leaves provide shade for the growing fruits.

Method 2 of 2: Prune later in the season

1. Prune away any stems that grow inward. As your pepper plants grow, keep an eye out for stems and leaves that grow inward toward the center of the plant. There is only limited space there and it quickly becomes too full to support the production of mature peppers. Encourage your plant to grow outward, especially at the base. This will also keep the center of gravity low, making it less likely that the plant will topple over.
   • Also prevent new shoots from growing around the base of the plant, so that there is enough room for the peppers to hang.
2. Remove the first few flowers that appear. If your pepper plant appears to be growing well, remove the first few flowers that emerge. Early flowers that develop into fruits require a lot of energy from the plant, energy that the plant can better use to grow bigger and stronger.
3. Prune away any excess flowers. To make sure your peppers have plenty of room to grow, remove the flowers growing on the crown (top) of the stem, as well as the flowers on the first, third, fifth, etc. eyes of the main stems. Removing flowers at a regular height not only stimulates controlled growth, but also prevents your plant from putting all its energy in one go into the production of peppers.
4. Prune off all non-essential branches a few weeks before the first frost. As the season ends, you can prune off the parts of the pepper plant that are free of ripening fruit. Remove branches with flowers and peppers that are unlikely to ripen before frost. This ensures that the remaining energy of the plant is used to allow the last peppers to mature on the plant.

Tips

• Prune 3-4 mm above an eye or bud while pruning. This distance is far enough to prevent the bud from getting damaged during pruning. Cutting a stem too high will leave a protrusion that dies and can rot.
• Use pruning shears to prune larger pepper plants. Pruners usually come in two types, longcut and anvil. Trimming shears are best for making cuts that can affect the health of the plant, they have a sharp cutting blade that is pushed past the lower jaw of the scissors.
• Wear gloves when pruning mature pepper plants. Gloves can reduce the tension and pressure of the shears on your hands. Gloves are particularly useful if you are pruning the pepper plants late in the season, as they protect your hands from accidental exposure to capsaicin.
• Use your pruning shears to harvest your peppers. Once your peppers are ready to be harvested, use the pruning shears to separate your peppers from the plant, leaving a small portion of the stem. If you try to pull the peppers off the plant by hand, you could accidentally pull the entire branches away.
• Trim mottled, brown leaves. Brown leaves often mean that your plant is not getting enough water.If you keep encountering the problem or if the leaves develop spots that are indented on top and sticking out at the bottom, it could be a sign of bacterial leaf spot. Prune the infected leaves and remove them from the garden to prevent further infestation.
• Keep a close eye on your plants. Different conditions, such as geographic location, soil quality, and temperature, can all affect the growth of the pepper plant. You may need to adjust your pruning schedule accordingly.

Warnings

• Avoid dazzling the main stem. Be careful not to cut the growth point of the central stem if you want that stem to grow further. You can avoid inadvertent stopping of growth by letting lateral shoots and branches grow 1-2 cm before pruning. This ensures that you know what you are clipping.