Gardeners with pepper plants have been urged to do one thing to get more fruit this summer. Experts from PepperJoe have told green-fingered Brits to ‘top’ the plants, which can improve plant health and increase yield.
Topping pepper plants involves removing the tip to encourage the plant to grow outwards. This energy is then put into the side branches. In addition to prompting more fruit to grow, topping can also increase branching, enhance air circulation, and prevent the plant from growing too high. First, you must prepare your tools, ensuring your pruning shears are sharp and clean. Then, locate the main stem and choose a topping point.
Measure a few inches above the highest set of leaves or lateral branches. Select a point where you want the plant to branch out. Typically, this is a quarter or half inch above a leaf node.
Hold the stem gently and use your shears to make a clean, diagonal cut. Keep the cut smooth to minimise the risk of injury to the plant. Afterwards, continue caring for it as usual and keep a close eye on its progress. Within a few weeks, you should start seeing new branches form.
Topping can be more effective when done during the early stages of growth. Wait until your plant develops around seven sets of leaves. This indicates that the plant has established a healthy root system and is ready for topping.
Once your pepper plant develops lateral branches, PepperJoe says you should top them. At this stage, the plant is actively producing new growth, and topping will encourage these branches to develop further.
Topping is particularly effective for tall plants at risk of becoming unstable. By reducing the plant’s height and encouraging lateral growth, topping can help maintain a more manageable size.
Try to avoid topping while the plant is very young or a seedling as well as when it is flowering and fruiting. There are some cons to topping, including a delayed harvest, a risk of infection and pests, and harming the plant through bad timing or misplaced cuts.