Terminated 2/10/18 ~ Hot Pepper Surprise - Ultra (1/1/18)

I don’t know that you can tell at this stage that it’s going to be too big.  It may just be that it’s a strain that is quicker to germinate and is fast out of the gate, but will still only get 18”-24”.  And you can top it to be safe, too.

What a fast growing pepper! And don't you just love a good Mystery??!!

I would wait until around Mid May when the ground is warm and the sun is strong to plant in-ground vegetables. Frost is usually gone by late April. But you can play it by ear and see if the ground is sufficiently warm enough.

I am in Zone 6B and plant flowers the last 2 weeks of May and wait at least until the very last week of May to put my maturing vegetables in my Earth Boxes. My neighbor plants tons of veg in the ground and says it is too early in may  and waits until the heat of the first 2 weeks of June. But he plants seedlings.

I would keep it in the machine, and if it is getting too tall, stick it in a pot and let it borrow light from the hood ubtil it is time to put it outside...or....keep snipping it down.
But then again...i am no pepper person.

Sorry for the blur


Closeup

when the soil is warmed by the sun...if it is mature, late may. If it is weak, early June. I would start in early May to put it at a window or on the porch in the daytime to strengthen it gradually with the breezes. A fan will do that as well.

8ml Nutes and 2 ml Mooch added.  I removed the two first set of beginner leaves.  I never remember what they are called.  I am sure in a week or more like two I will be posting for help on where to cut it.  But until then....

Left Plant

Yes!  That is the word I am looking for.

I learned it from Corinne.    And then I had to look it up to find out how to pronounce it, lol.

I might, but I'd be more comfortable if there was one more branch underneath.

I think you will be safe cutting there, because it looks like you will get 4 more new branches from it. I myself haven’t been topping my peppers lately because of how much it delays fruiting, but I recall this is one you are worried about getting too big.  So, you can top there, but if it makes you nervous about it being too early, as a compromise you could just remove (very carefully) that teeny tiny sliver in the center on the top, here




It looks like that would give you yet another 4+ branches.  OTOH, it might not serve to limit the height as much as you want it to.

A 3rd option is to wait 2 more days just so the top sliver will be more visible to cut.  

It’s a tough call, I know.  If it were me, I think I’d go for the more liberal cut you were thinking to begin with.  If you lose the plant, well, it’s one you were worried might not have worked out to begin with.  But I do think it’ll be ok.  When is your next feeding due?