#but ripping off flowers can encourage more production of leaves since the plant can't put energy into flower

[balkanradfem]

Thank you for the suggestions! I think I'm going to make some chili powder and hot pepper jelly :)

I was sort of taken by surprise by the chili plant - I impulsively planted it in early March, which is technically a month late, and then it survived an attempted murder by my cat (she ripped off the top 20 cm, including ALL of the leaves and flower buds) and I put it out on the balcony even though it was too cold for it. But it survived and sprouted more leaves, and then got flowers, and then peppers, and now they've started turning red and there are like 25 of them and I realised I have no idea what to do with them since a woman can only eat so many fresh chili peppers.

You're welcome! Chili powder and hot pepper jelly sound awesome :)

I'm laughing so much at your cat's mischievous adventures, it could have actually helped the pepper a little! I know some people cut the top off of their peppers in order to make them more bushy and it can inspire more production (I've never tried it myself, me peppers never grew that much), and if it ended up growing so much it must have been happy with the weather! Good job growing so many peppers impulsively, that's powerful!

#i mean it couldn't have been great to have leaves ripped off #but ripping off flowers can encourage more production of leaves since the plant can't put energy into flower #the plant was probably like #oh its prune day #chili peppers #pepper growing