Pruning Peppers 101: The Best Time to Trim Your Year-Round Plants

Knowing how and when to prune peppers is essential to keeping them healthy and productive for many years. In mild-winter climates like where I live (low desert of Arizona zone 9b), pepper plants often live for many years. If left to continue growing, plants get spindly and are prone to breaking. Plants also have damage from the infrequent (but still possible) frost events or the extreme heat in the summer.

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[EffSharp]

I’m so glad I found you! I’m a second year gardener and still devouring tutorials. :)

[kathleenreadinger]

I live in zone 6b, I have tried twice to over winter pepper plants without success. I envy your ability to perennialize some garden plants. Thank you for the pepper plant pruning tutorial.
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[HitTheStreets]

Thank you, that was very informative. I will definitely be putting that into practice. Cheers 🇦🇺

[FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I am in totally different growing conditions so I am finding your videos on how to grow in your conditions so interesting. If ever I move to an area like yours I know I have a great resource!

[dharmanalaboo]

Thanks, this was very informative. I didn't know I could grow my peppers for a few years and I look forward to seeing if I can to this.

[mcnorcan]

Thanks, I’m going to try pruning my bell pepper seedlings this year. Last year my plants were leggy and had a hard time supporting the fruit.

[Amanda-cnpk]

This was my first winter, overwintering my peppers. They did great and are growing like crazy outside now that it's warming up.
I trimmed them back to about 4 inches and kept them inside under growlights. They regrew quickly and gave many peppers inside. I will definitely continue to do this, as pepper seedlings take a while to get started, so this is a great way to get a jumpstart.

[Doublehacres]

Thanks for the information. I have several peppers that are ready to be transplanted and I’m gonna try this.

[gabriellewis]

Thanks for this video I’m in zone 9b Orlando I discovered today I had a small Jalapeño plant I thought was over and while watering I have at least 15 or more on the vine ready to pick they’re fire engine red.

[deltorres]

This is my 2nd year on a few of my peppers ..one plants got 4ft tall but I did give it a good pruning and it Loved it ..lots of blossoms coming along ..Pepper are my favorite 🌶️ 🫑

[elainejohnson]

Just planted 2 peppers. Going to snip one and compare.

[jessegeluz]

If the plant gets black spots on it, then is it a goner? I have sprayed repeative natural sprays to see if it get rid of it, but it doesnt appear to do anything. I follow the intructions and follow up on the bottles as well. Also, how do u water yours? I have seen mine go through leaf drop and lose all of its leaves. I wasnt sure if i should start from scratch. I appreciate all your videos. I have learned so much. Can u make a video on how to care for seedlings and when to transplant? Ima look and see if u have an older one. Have the best day ever!

[thebusybrownangel]

Hi, Angela! My pepper plants are all in their 2nd and 3rd years. I have one bell pepper plant that I pruned way too hard the first year. It didn’t die, but it has never fully recovered. It’s small and produces small fruit, but it’s still trying. I just don’t have the heart to give up on it. A long as it’s trying, I’m going to let it. Any tips on helping it out? Zone 9b SoCal 💚 ~ Tanya

[AbdulRehman-ltjq]

I am from pakistan....
I love you so much

[mcnorcan]

I was told to pinch off the first flowers to promote foliage growth when the plant is young. Do you recommend it?

[ConnorJohnGriffin]

Great video Angela! I had heard of overwintering peppers by pruning after late fall, but that's usually something that true 4-season growers talk about, and they tend to dig up and bring the plants indoors for the winter.

My problem here after a few seasons is that my peppers always end up sunburned. I may be starting them too late indoors, but I try to follow the Maricopa Planting Guide from U of A. By the time my fruits are maturing, we've hit 105+ outside and even with a 40% shade cloth, my peppers simply can't handle it. The fall crop usually does better. Any tips?

Due to the orientation of my house and garden placement, my garden doesn't start getting full sun until around early March, so I can't simply start them in the garden sooner unfortunately. I have some 6-8" tall seedlings that I plan to plant out this weekend, do you think it's too late?

[tracyallen]

I am a very new gardener here in Glendale Arizona. I didn’t winterize my pepper plants. What should I be doing to care for them now?

[lisafetter]

Angela, where do you get your shredded cardboard for vermicomposting here in Mesa, AZ?

[scrathd]

Hey we live in Mesa also on Broadway and Crismon. I'm a beginer. Maybe you can help me some time using zoom if you don't mind. I'm focusing mainly on producing enough for our family then
have plant plant sales every weekend.

[jessegeluz]

Do ur leaves look ever sad during the summer?