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You say you have hot pepper plants in the ground, sprawling all over the place, getting beaten down by rainstorms and general watering? Well, if your peppers have the appearance of tangled fishing line, we have the solution for you. Hot pepper topiary. Yes, you can turn your hedge of confusion into organized, elegant beauties without having to expend too much effort.
    The little beauty to the left is an Orange Jamaican Scotch Bonnet. It is ready to be repotted into a ten gallon container. It began life in a 200 celled growing tray, was transplanted to a 42 celled growing tray, again transplanted to a 4" pot, next moved to a gallon, then repotted in a 3 gallon pot which you see in the picture.
    Along the journey, the plant was pinched and pruned in order to develop a sturdy stock and encourage top growth. Picture 2 depicts the standard, early plant with leaves in the process of being pinched off. It is essential that a noticeable "V" with some leaf growth is present when starting this process.
    Photo 3 depicts an older plant that has been continuously (ouch) pinched and is developing a nice miniature tree shape. Fruit may begin forming at this point. If it is small, remove it. Also, continue removing any side growth or stray buds. Supply plenty of support with stakes and twist ties until you have a good, sturdy stock.
    Picture 4 shows a solid, woody "V" and vigorous top growth. When this kind of woody stock is present, its time to bombard the plant with your favorite fertilizer. Now's the time for buds and lots of them. You have a thick stock pumping all those nutrients up into a controlled number of leaves and buds. This kind of good gardening strategy gets you more bang for the gardening buck. The benefits to this system are many:  you don't have to look forlornly at a wild mess, you have better looking plants with healthier fruit and seed, you have elegant potted plants for your patio or garden walkways.
    Does it work? Take a look at the beauty of the fruits. They are firm, thick fleshed, shiny and loaded with seed. The leaves are dark green and healthy. Are the peppers hot? Well, when we were cleaning these fruits for seed, they were so fragrant they produced a ghastly sneezing fit...that's what you call success. Have fun.

 

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