Why You Should Top Your Pepper Plants and How to Do It

One of my favorite reasons to top peppers is that they get so bushy that they completely shade the ground beneath them. They create their own mulching effect. Weeds won’t grow in the shade, and because the ground is kept shaded and cool, there is less water evaporation. I’ve often discussed the importance of mulching plants for both of these reasons, but it’s even better if the plant will do it for you. Add a layer of mulch around the base of the plant while it grows out, and you’ve now got a pepper that will do better longer without rain.

Grow More Peppers Per Plant

Finally, the biggest benefit to topping peppers is a bigger yield. (Just what every gardener hopes to hear!) Bushier plants with more side stems tend to put out more flowers, which in turn means more peppers overall. Making your own hot sauce? Canning pepper relish? Or, my favorite, are you freezing up batches of peppers and onions? Then you’re going to want to top your peppers.
Bonus tip: If you really want a big harvest, top your pepper plants and pinch off flowers for the first couple of weeks after you plant your peppers. This encourages the plant to put all of its energy into growing bushier. Those new lateral stems end up putting out even more flowers. It’s a bit like telling a teenager “no.” Oh, I can’t put out flowers, huh? Just watch me!