Can I Cut Back Pepper Plants?

Discover methods of making your pepper plants produce higher yields.

Start enjoying homegrown peppers for a longer growing season and have more to dry, freeze and can by cutting back peppers. Removing the buds and first fruits of pepper plants often results in increased yields, though experts often warn against the practice under certain circumstances.

Expert Insight

Pepper plants can be cut back, though the practice is not recommended by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Although cutting back can prolong pepper production, excessive pruning can result in death or damage, especially to plants in the most southern parts of the U.S. Light pruning will help to promote higher yields without subjecting plants to growth stunts and scalding.

Time Frame

Farmers often cut back pepper plants in late summer or early fall, after a spring planting. Since peppers are perennials, they will continue to grow and produce fruit well into cool autumn months. Farmers also may cut back the first few blooms to increase plant yields. This should occur in late spring or summer, when the first blooms appear.

Considerations

To prevent peppers from contacting diseases when the earliest fruits are cut back, gardeners should use a knife or scissors to cut off the fruit without damaging the stems. Scissors should be kept clean to prevent the spread of plant diseases and never shared with other plants

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Growing Peppers in the Home Garden
• AgriLife Extension: Pepper
• University of Illinois Extension: Peppers
• Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: Growing Peppers is Fun, Easy and Addicting

Resources

• University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: Bell Peppers