How to Cut Back a Jalapeno

Remove all buds, flowers and fruits from small jalapeno transplants. This delays fruit production until the plant grows large enough. By removing all of the fruiting parts, the plant will turn its energy toward vegetative growth and will produce a larger harvest. Allow the plant to grow to a sufficient size before letting the blossoms grow, about three weeks.

Control growth by cutting stems back to a desired shape and size early in the season, before the plant has begun heavily fruiting. Remove the smallest branches and the suckers that emerge from Y-shaped stem formations. Size control is especially important if you are growing your jalapeno in a container, as it may need pruning for growth constriction.

Cut back top branches with the smallest flowers and fruit about six weeks before the first frost date. This will boost the maturation speed of existing peppers. Although it will not encourage new growth, it will make the current peppers ripen quicker.

Prune throughout the growing season and apply additional fertilizer to prolong the harvest until the first frost in Southern regions. In Northern states, a prolonged harvest can be achieved without such pruning.

Remove dead foliage to prevent diseases from spreading and keep the plant productive and attractive.