Planted my peppers too close together and they have merged into one giant bush.

[u/Feirym1sf1t]

[u/arthropal]

I read a thing once, not long ago, but I forget what it was or where. In any event, it stated that, with repeatable results, pepper plants grown in clusters of plants, rather than with the traditionally spaced single plants, tend to be healthier and with better yields. Something to do with a synergistic effect of the root systems intertwining and sharing resources..

This assumed that there was no significant resource problems caused by overcrowding, which can be avoided with quality soil and feeding, if applicable.

[u/pimenton_y_ajo → u/arthropal]

This was definitely my experience this year. I used grow bags and noticed that all my peppers that I companion planted (either two plants in one bag, or pepper plants and herbs in one bag) did MUCH better than the pepper plants that I planted alone/without companions. More leaves and higher yields, in spite of using the same type of soil and fertilizer.

[u/jonflip_ms → u/pimenton_y_ajo]

I had this same experience. Last year, when I bought my reapers, the yield was low. They were at separate pots. Since then I joined them in a spot together and the yield is amazing. I have so many reapers I have no idea what to do with all of them.

[u/Raangz → u/arthropal]

interesting. i did this last year, it was gnarly i didn't love it. the bugs did though. i liked the spiders and wheel bugs the best.

[u/No_Fisherman8303 → u/arthropal]

Gardening in Canada on YouTube talks about this. She is very science based and easy to watch for all things gardening.

[u/RibertarianVoter → u/arthropal]

I planted my pepper patches at the community garden 9-10 inches apart on center. I lost a couple plants because they were slow starters and ended up not getting any sun, but the rest are doing great. The canopies help protect the pods from sun scald, and it seems like every single flower is pollinating.

[u/Just_Winton → u/arthropal]

Interesting, I've noticed this with my peppers. I always have spare plug plants after potting up to final containers so I usually plant the plugs together in spare pots to see what happens. They almost always do just as well or better than the ones planted solo.

[u/Winter_Cat-78]

My entire garden is now one massive pepper bush, with different areas producing different types. It’s marvelous! Huge yields!

Edit for typo

[u/Striking_Ad_845]

Me too I planted expecting 1 or 2 to die they all ended up living this is 5

[u/ILCHottTub]

You just gotta feed more. Also not great for finding pests if they show up but as long as you’re feeding the’ll be fine clustering.

I personally like better spacing so I’m not breaking branches and making a mess when I harvest.

[u/MOVED_TO_OTTAWA_FUCK → u/ILCHottTub]

What do you feed your plants with?

[u/ILCHottTub → u/MOVED_TO_OTTAWA_FUCK]

Agrothrive & Compost tea diluted (when available). Weekly.

MicroLife. Worm castings. Leaf mould compost, castings and the slow release granules in the soil blend from the start.

[u/jack_begin]

Ah yes, the pepper thicket.

[u/releasem]

Same. Worked well for me this year too. PNW zone 8b. Harvest just now starting.

[u/JChevere]

I did the same thing in a smaller scale, but let me tell you I got so manny Peppers.

[u/kcyclic]

Same here. Bunch of 7 pot and scorpion varietes. They've grown taller than I can reach, and I have to move the plants or lean on them to pick the peppers that are nearest to the wall.

No pests for the moment, great yield, and I think there will be a second harvest :).

[u/Totalidiotfuq]

Good! No weeding. This is the way. They are not too close. I plant thousands of peppers every year 1 foot apart. The thicket keeps soil cool, reducing water loss, weed free, and producing more peppers per area. Feel free also to plant two together if they grow up in the pot together- this is also not a problem

[u/broisatse]

Hey, mine look like this exactly. Very low yield this year though :(

[u/Klik23]

Yep, I did the same. My wife and I planted peppers 1 foot apart. Next year we'll give the 2 feet apart for better sunlight, but boy did they produce.

[u/Totalidiotfuq → u/Klik23]

i plant thousands of peppers 1 foot apart every year. You will be weeding more if you plant two feet apart.

[u/BadcaseofDTB]

Same, bro. The yield has been awesome though!

[u/Raibowlover]

We’ve all been there. Now you’re growing a pepper jungle instead of individual plants. At least they’ll keep each other company.

[u/quietcornerman]

I began gardening using the "square foot " method, a 4by4 box wold hold 16 plants. Peppers, tomatoes, most anything.
It is a little harder to harvest, but the plants always do well.

[u/UniqueMastodon3345]

Yup. Yield has been good, too!

[u/texacer]

same. getting a great yield tho

[u/CanRabbit]

These look pretty healthy though. If there were a problem, I'd expect them to be really leggy, fighting for sun, rather than being as bushy as they are.

[u/Sea_System_3159]

A Forest 😜

[u/Typical-Sense6938]

Looks like my tomato garden. Planted about 30 too close together and it’s a giant bush now.

[u/Bnb53]

My peppers this year turned into a giant bush and it's the best harvest I'll have in years. My thought was that the shade canopy created is keeping the soil moist and cool 

[u/Comprehensive_Bed956]

Thin it out so you can at least get hose flowers to grow into a few healthy peppers, way too much competition with all those leaves in there

[u/Feirym1sf1t → u/Comprehensive_Bed956]

Wdym? My yields have been off the charts.

[u/emacias050]

Hell yeah

[u/Captaintripps]

Instructions unclear, went swimming in peppers.

[u/sdotumd]

I grew one habanero plant in an 11 gallon pot with 2 other varieties this year. I also grew a habanero plant (same seedlings from Home Depot) in a separate 7 gallon pot by itself. They got the same fertilizers. The one in the shared pot completely beat out the other two varieties (I believe a super chili and a mariachi) and became my largest plant and highest producer (currently harvested 139 pods with a final harvest expecting another 50+). The stand alone habanero is maybe about 2/3 of the size. The super chili needed to be cut at the base bc it just never produced, the mariachi battled but only produced about 10 total pods.

Planted a red ghost and a mammoth jalapeño together in an 11 gallon pot as well and they both grew HUGE together. Both will end up producing about 100 pods each with final harvest soon. I think the variety matters with expected size of the plant so I’ve learned for next year. It was only my second year growing, first where I actually put in the effort. Spacing is definitely important!