Do peppers behave like tomatoes?

GaryStPaul · June 13, 2012

I have a small number of peppers in grow bags, which are about 2/3 full of medium. Is it OK to add more medium at this point (they're about a foot and a half tall)? Will the plants develop roots along the newly-covered stem? TIA.
Gary

Boutique Tomatoes · June 13, 2012

Depends on the variety, but it won't hurt them unless there is something bad in the new medium. I do it most years because with top watering compacting the medium and some lower leaf loss they end up looking like I've been less than nice to them.

zabby17 · June 13, 2012

Gary,

Peppers do form new roots along buried stem, but to a lesser extent than tomatoes. I always bury my pepper seedlings deep and have seen it.

On the other hand, they grow more slowly in general, so if it slows down their growth of leaf & flower (and, hence, pepper!) to make more roots, there may be a greater cost than with tomatoes. (This is just me musing. I haven't ever actually tried adding more medium to a well-established plant as you're thinking of doing.)

Good luck!

Z

Z

JamesL · June 13, 2012

Gary,
Peppers will develop new roots, mostly at the nodes, but not as quickly and easily as tomatoes. Plant age is also a factor. Older plants lignify (become woody stemmed) and won't readily develop new roots.
As Mark said it won't hurt if you have good media. More roots might equal better productivity as well.

GaryStPaul · June 13, 2012

Thanks for all of you for the prompt and very helpful responses!

June 13, 2012	#1
GaryStPaul Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St Paul, MN Posts: 158	Do peppers behave like tomatoes? I have a small number of peppers in grow bags, which are about 2/3 full of medium. Is it OK to add more medium at this point (they're about a foot and a half tall)? Will the plants develop roots along the newly-covered stem? TIA. Gary

June 13, 2012	#3
zabby17 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 211	Gary, Peppers do form new roots along buried stem, but to a lesser extent than tomatoes. I always bury my pepper seedlings deep and have seen it. On the other hand, they grow more slowly in general, so if it slows down their growth of leaf & flower (and, hence, pepper!) to make more roots, there may be a greater cost than with tomatoes. (This is just me musing. I haven't ever actually tried adding more medium to a well-established plant as you're thinking of doing.) Good luck! Z Z Last edited by zabby17; June 13, 2012 at 10:40 AM. Reason: pushed "send" too soon!

June 13, 2012	#2
Boutique Tomatoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a Posts: 1,109	Depends on the variety, but it won't hurt them unless there is something bad in the new medium. I do it most years because with top watering compacting the medium and some lower leaf loss they end up looking like I've been less than nice to them.

June 13, 2012	#4
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Gary, Peppers will develop new roots, mostly at the nodes, but not as quickly and easily as tomatoes. Plant age is also a factor. Older plants lignify (become woody stemmed) and won't readily develop new roots. As Mark said it won't hurt if you have good media. More roots might equal better productivity as well.