[adri123]

Just watched a youtube vid by victoriana nursery.  Guy seems to know his stuff.  But he said the exact opposite of what I'd heard as regards potting up chillies which is that it'll lead to "certain failure" if you bury the stem as they DON'T stem root.

Well I've seen loads of tutorials etc on growing chillies where they say bury the stem asit WILL root.

Anyone got an opinion on this?

Here's the link...http://youtu.be/zpW5SnRrODw

Thx in advance

Adri

[smellykipper]

i took DD advice and my chillies are flying now

leggy


as DD said, bury them down


and two weeks later


i do love growing things

[m1ckz]

mine are 4in     with 3 sets of leaves...maybe its time i repotted them..there still alltogether in a tray

[sunshineband]

mine are 4in     with 3 sets of leaves...maybe its time i repotted them..there still alltogether in a tray

Yes, it is, as they need their own space now 

[Kate and her Ducks]

I usually bury my chillies down when I prick them out as they tend to be a little leggy as I tend to start them off early. They always seem to do well. As to not rooting from the stem, I can see mine producing roots from the stem sometimes.

[gobs]

Just watched a youtube vid by victoriana nursery.  Guy seems to know his stuff.  But he said the exact opposite of what I'd heard as regards potting up chillies which is that it'll lead to "certain failure" if you bury the stem as they DON'T stem root.

Well I've seen loads of tutorials etc on growing chillies where they say bury the stem asit WILL root.

Anyone got an opinion on this?

Here's the link...http://youtu.be/zpW5SnRrODw

Thx in advance

Adri

They root from the basal stem and the top of the injured taproot when transplanted. How is it a failure to plant them deep, whether they do or not? Otherwise they would topple over or break. It's a long way till the stem gets woody and tough.

[Steveharford]

Mine are about six inches high and looking pretty good. Sounds like I need to pot them on though. Do I also pinch them out ?

[3 allotments]

They look great but id pinch them out when they are about 12 inch tall so they branch out nicely

[adri123]

Check out victoriana nursery on yuotube.  A few good vids about chilli growing.

[I Love Spuds]

Mine where leggy so potted on into 6" pots, buried deep and they are going great guns. No signs of "certain failure" yet, so fingers crossed. Has anyone tried not deep potting leggy chillis? Do they just fall over and die or beef up and survive? Just wondered 

[mumofstig]

Mine are about six inches high and looking pretty good. Sounds like I need to pot them on though. Do I also pinch them out ?

The one on the left looks as if it's already making little branches, if so they won't need pinching out at all 

[surbie100]

Have to say, all this talk of pinching out chillies is new to me. I've never done it - but most of mine have branched naturally at about a foot high.

Are there any downsides to pinching out, other than slowing the plant down a bit while it has a think about what to do next? And does it work for all varieties?

[JayG]

I grew 2 cayenne chillies side by side (well, in the same trough  ), and pinched one out and left the other one to do its own thing. I don't remember much in the way of difference either in shape or yield (they're in their 4th year now and I am going to replace them this year as they're looking a bit untidy, although I have to say they're not looking like wanting to give up yet.)

Chillies are related to tomatoes, which are known to readily produce additional roots if the stem is buried - I probably did transplant my chillies a bit deeper, but not to any significant extent..........

[adri123]

As for branching/pinching out the tops...

Check out victoriana nursery on youtube.

If you watch it's someone who does horticulture for a living and has clear views on the potting up and pinching out debates...think I'll go with what he's got to say tbh.

[beesrus]

I've never had the courage to pinch out my babies, as I've never had the available early warmth to ensure they don't stutter. If a bigger crop is required I grow more plants. I also stake plants if they grow too tall.
Keeping them warm is the main issue for me. They grow well enough then. I assume these commercial growers have no problems with heat and light like many of us allotment folk and therefore have a longer window to fiff faff and make their plants look presentable for sale.
I always pot on my chillies slightly deeper than in the original seed tray if they have stretched. Never had a problem.
The stem/earth interface with toms/chillies/cucumbers certainly seems to cause a lot of conjecture.
My input is to ensure you water from the bottom.