Do We Stake Peppers? How We Support Our Plants

When we grow peppers, we don’t always stake them depending on their size and variety, however when we do stake our peppers, here is how we do it.

[@PaleGhost69]

I support my plants with kind word and thoughtful gestures.

[@alexschlump681]

Only one kind word!? That doesn’t seem like enough support. 🤓

[@raymondkyruana118]

hahahaha

[@PaleGhost69]

@@alexschlump681 I don't get audible often. I think they'll empathize

[@KeeKeeSoto]

😂😂😂

[@Kathleen253]

😂😂😂

[@franksinatra1070]

I put the tomato cages on them as soon as they go in the ground and train the pepper to stay inside. That always works pretty well for me.

[@HereWeMowAgain]

I do the same thing! Much easier to put the cage in at time of planting!

[@clarissamiles]

Cool! That's what we did:)

[@reginaweiner3817]

I do the same, except upside down. Then I pull the stakes at the base to an angle that will poke deer that want to eat the whole freaking plant right up the nose.

[@AmyJ81]

I do the same. I have a bunch that were useless for my tomato plants but didn't want them to go to waste.

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

That works great in the South where you prune them back to bush out, but up North, it's more advisable to let them leg up and stake a taller plant.

[@debbieflores7256]

Hi Luke! I also stake my peppers, usually with the 4' bamboo poles. I tie them up with the green stretchy tape if they are really heavy too. I have WAY too many this year! I started them from seed and couldn't bring myself to NOT plant them. Now we are over run with many varieties!

[@XenobiaF]

I laughed to see that you use the bottom of your shirt as a harvest basket like I sometimes do! Thanks for a chuckle to start my day!

[@billysnow7564]

Thanks for all the informational videos. This is my first year doing real gardening and most of my knowledge came from you!

[@deborahculler4820]

I really enjoyed that Luke. That for showing me I can still get other thing in my garden. Starting next week I will clear out my garden and plant my fall crops

[@YeasminAmi]

Here in Bangladesh, South Asia, we used to stake earlier while planting the chilli plant. Its less time consuming and easy in this way...

[@pamt3915]

Lowe’s sells a 12 pack of 1x2x36 for only $8.68! Thanks for mentioning these! I’ll be getting some tomorrow!

[@SlippyDude]

Nothing like a shirt basket! Best basket ever.

[@gloriafreeman2719]

At the beginning of the video I saw you had a cattle panel arched for a trellis of some sort. We use a lot of cattle panels, cut up, in our garden for supports. They are great for tomatoes and actually everything. We make the cut so that one end has no support row, leaving a good amount to dig into the ground. Some are bent or curved, depending on where it is being used. They are so versatile, sturdy and last a long time, making them more cost effective. Love your videos. Spend lots of time watching them.

[@Mark723]

Thank you for succinctly explaining the philosophy of your channel for the obvious-challenged viewers in the audience...

[@t4qjjqdq5y6]

Hi, Luke, Love your channel & all the great information you pass along! Yes, I have tomato horn worms on my peppers... and not on my tomato plants... Imagine they'll move over there next if I don't get rid of them all soon! What a nice haul of peppers!!!

[@adamgilmor8259]

Y-branch is my best friend in the garden 🤗

[@conniefait7403]

Beautiful garden! nice video! great sunflower 🌻 💛

[@HereWeMowAgain]

Luke - I use tomato cages on my peppers and they seem to do well. This year I am single stemming my tomato plants which has made a big difference already! Thanks for the great video!

[@meloniepluth5037]

Yes... I battled hornworms on my peppers this year. I thought I lost a couple of my plants, but there were a few leaves the fat little worms didnt get. So I just pruned back the stems with ko leaves and the plants bounced back wonderful. It has put out my harvest awhile, but the plants are finally putting on peppers. Now, I do have my plants near my tomatoes, so that could be why they hit. Because they hit the tomatoes at the same time. Fortunately I caught the little buggers before they had a chance to ruin everything! I have learned how to spot them very young now. Love your videos.

[@BrightestBlessings7899]

I show kindness and use bamboo to support my squash plants. My peppers are in a high sided Hugelkultur 4x4 garden. It is so plant dense that they cannot fall out of the garden or fall over on each other. This heatwave/ fire season here in Malakwa BC Canada has been amazing for our peppers. We can't grow all the kinds you can. It is just not hot long enough here. Great video! I love your videos. It is a wonderful way to share gardening knowledge! Brightest Blessings

[@candicemiller5228]

I had a horn worm chew 2 Pepper plants down to nubs before I caught it and fed it to the birds. I had a few in a container that I just popped into the raised beds in their places. I’m growing the giant Marconi also. I followed your “how to over winter your peppers” video and it got to come inside over the coldest months before being replanted. It’s doing great for the second summer.

[@contextkey9913]

Luke, you are killing me by continue to harvest by hand after your video teaching us not to harvest by hand! 😂 Just teasing! Thank you for all the great videos. I've learned an awful lot from you. Much appreciated!

[@CeliaMcKee]

I know he's done it in several videos lately!

[@bryans6539]

Do as I say not as I do? Lol

[@virtuousgardeningmore3551]

Beautiful peppers! Be blessed! 💜💜

[@MIgardener]

Thank you! :)

[@donnayoung5942]

You have the best channel! Best advice! Thank you!

[@SaraCBear]

Love this channel 💖

[@mountain.spider]

Thanks fir the help. Your videos are always informative,

[@NewMindGarden]

Wow.. Fabulous video 👍👍👍👍

[@tamararoberts9307]

Your plants look amazing!

[@Minnesota_Mama_Bear]

I need to do this soon. Thank you for the great ideas!💚🌞

[@inelhernandez1097]

Watching rn because I have to stack my Serrano plant right now! And luckily I have the same looking wood stack like yours. Yay!

[@charliehoos9773]

I use bamboo poles from a relative’s yard and old tomato cages.

[@Mstymntntop]

Bamboo works great, just be careful if they are shorter. My wife wasn’t paying attention today and bent down and the end got her right in the eye. Luckily she blinked before it happened and it got her eyelid….she will have a nice black eye tomorrow.

[@ljtnc6012]

@@Mstymntntop This is the first year I've been successful with peppers and I used bamboo sticks to support them and have almost done the same thing numerous times! I might switch to wire cages next year just to avoid injury.🤣😜

[@ouroldpathjourney]

Yes, I've had hornworms on my peppers the last couple years. I've found over 25 on my tomatoes this year (stopped counting after 25), a few on my tomatillos, and 2 on my peppers. That ratio is generally consistent.

[@deborahfromdcspetersoncity9213]

I support certain plants in my garden, mainly peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers. The reason I support them is where I live we have quite a strong breeze from 2pm and on. There is nothing sadder then coming out in the morning to find them snapped in two due to the breeze.

[@moyemoye7952]

I bought some extra stakes just in case this year for my peppers, but I've never really had an issue with them here in my very windy Wyoming zone. I didn't get to/ need to use them on the peppers (even though they are bigger than ever thanks to Trifecta!), I ended up using them on the darn Amish paste tomatoes! Had to add height to my tomato stakes and taped the extra stakes on top of the original ones to support the height of the plants. Never ever in my wildest dreams would I have had a prolific tomato plant so big! Sometimes I think the reason I don't have to stake so much up is because of the wind causing strong stems.

[@jacobfleener8501]

I always enjoy watching your videos. I have learned so much from your great videos. My wife thinks I’m an expert Gardner but I tell her I’m just following MiGardners advice

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses my t-shirt to harvest. 😁 I have 3 baskets but do I remember to grab one on the way to the garden? Before I had the garden fenced off from the chickens, they bent over one of my pepper plants. I staked it up and tied it with a t-shirt tie and it's going gangbusters!👍

[@gramybrooks1]

Same here lol

[@MushtaqAhmad-jg3bn]

Masha Allah very beautiful 🌶 pepper's very good advice it is make easy for me💖🇬🇧

[@mellyg8872]

Oh yes. I’ve sported the shirt basket many times 😂 Thanks Luke

[@therevelation19]

The last years i put them on strings just like my tomatoes. This year I use a growing mesh for the first time.The gaps are around 10 cm X 10 cm and the plants just grow through the mesh and are fixed, several layers, around each 15cm to 20cm are needed. But seems to work great and once installed it preserves time for other things. Original this mesh was designed for cutting flowers.

[@kimg5784]

Thank you - good information!

[@suecap4985]

Love the videos, thanks

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

I use the cages as well, and I support spindly branches with fruit, with the heavy wire stakes with the loop on the end. I clip everything in place with the plastic clips that snap on. Easier than tying them.

[@jonathanbenevides1359]

Yes ive had tomato horn-worm recently devour two of my pepper plant that was next to a tomato plant. The chickens love some hornworm. It ended up doing me a favor, the pepper plants branched out and got twice as thick and they are now loaded with banana peppers!

[@TheFreeBeard]

Nice peppers dude, keep on growing!

[@MIgardener]

Thanks Joey!

[@JudiintheKitchen]

Thank you!

[@SrGrumpypants1]

Hi Luke. I love your videos! I am learning so much! One suggestion for this one, I would have liked to have seen you tying the pepper plant to the stake. I could assume that I should do it the same way you’ve tied up tomatoes, but I hate to assume. Would I tie up the plant the same way you suggested for tomatoes with the elastic bands?

[@evriellesmith6659]

I use the store bought tomato cages you know the funnel shape cage them when I plant but my plants usually end up 5 feet tall And I make tomato cages out of 6 foot concrete 6x6 reinforcing mat and let my tomatoes grow over the top and back to the ground,

[@SuperWhatapain]

Thank you🙂

[@davidmccleary5540]

The varagations varied very well

[@TheBeadGarden]

I'm going to grow bamboo just to stake my garden plants. Lol.

[@sandrainontario6710]

I'm going to save my sunflower stalks!

[@BrightestBlessings7899]

Such a great idea! I may try sunflowers for peppers or tomatoe support next year.

[@BrickTop06]

I've thought of that but you can end up with a bamboo forest despite your best efforts.

[@SpottyCreekFarm]

The big take away that I got from this episode was to stake 3 or 4" away from the plant in the direction that it's leaning. It makes a lot of sense but I never thought about it that way.

[@jackiehorsley9263]

Wow Luke that,s definitely a pepper harvest I think you talk to your pepper,s lol.

[@banobeautisaloon7149]

Wow very beautiful You have kept plants dear friend i also like plants very much i have also put too much in my house 💖💖💝💝💝😘😘😘😘👍👍👍👍👍

[@doreenwells3903]

I buy iron rods from the lumber aisle for tomatoes and peppers. Read years ago that tomatoes utilize the ions from storms that radiate from the iron to the ground. Seems to work for me and the stakes don’t rot and hold up well during high winds. This year I purchased cattle panels and the peppers, tomatoes and beans are growing up those. Again, they don’t fall during a storm and last forever..

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Of all the goofy gardening old wives tales, that is the goofiest.

[@reaganknight]

this popped in my recommended haha

[@bethmcguinn8606]

Last year and this year weve had hornworms eat a couple plants, fruits and all!

[@josephjames675]

We had some damage to two of our hot cherry pepper plants about three weeks ago that seemed likely from hornworms; missing foliage, droppings down at the base of the plants, but no hornworms spotted. Haven’t had any issues with our tomatoes or other peppers since and still no worms spotted. I was surprised because I’d never had issues with peppers with hornworms before. Plants have recovered nicely from it now but it was frustrating to see those plants stripped bare that day.

[@staciaallison5638]

Ive had to stake my Milkweed plants so that they dont cover my other plants. Ive weeded most out but of course some come back which is okay for my butterfly garden. But they get so tall and start flopping over that they fall on top of my plants. Bamboo sticks are my stake of choice for them.

[@Lilmissbaker3173]

Your peppers look AMAZING! I have a question, I did not think about this before I planted my Peppers in my 1’ raised bed that I used Hardware Cloth due to the moles etc… I am not sure how I can steak these peppers, do you have any suggestions? I guess a tomato trellis would be the best option unless you have a better idea? I absolutely love your channel by the way! Thank you!

[@Earthy-Artist]

Experimented by transplanting 32 sets of two seedlings per cell into a raised bed. 2 plants per 1 sq. ft, right next to each other, I mean almost touching, I didn't separate them. So that equals about 64 individual pepper plants growing in pairs. All doing well, producing fruit & supporting each other because their branches touch, & together combined simulates one thicker main stem.

[@ndbg46881]

Good to confirm it is almost impossible to tie pepper plants to stakes! Mine also lean on supports.

[@StaceyUncluttering]

Here in Mississippi we have lots of tomato horn worms on our poblano pepper plant. Luckily we have wasps helping us keep them under control! Pests are so bad here in general though.

[@deborah_chrysoprase]

If you have videos that you shoot but you don't want to put too many of them up (because the algorithm punishes you for that) that's a really good reason to start a second channel, it lets you keep the right number of videos on the main channel so the algorithm doesn't screw you up, but the fans that are willing to spend more time watching your videos have extra content they can consume as well.

[@TLatha-ju3gd]

Ur bhaskte is so nice

[@sandrainontario6710]

I got seeds from you for California Bell peppers, Hungarian yellow peppers, and habanadas. The first two never germinated and I tried more than once. But the habanatas came up 100%. Unfortunately I planted them all where they were going to get shaded too much and also there were some bugs that absolutely loved them. Two of them look pretty good so one I transplanted to a pot hoping I can overwinter it and the other I'm keeping an eye on and trying to prune things that are shading them.

[@RamblingRose08]

I had tomato hornworms on my peppers (and tomatoes) 2 years ago. Tomatoes and peppers were on opposite sides of the garden. Last year I didn't find any hornworms at all.

[@shonnamay8331]

Those peppers looked amazing! Where did you get the seeds because I didn't see any of those when I bought mine?

[@viper04af]

yes i have had horn worms on my peppers, have to catch then quick the eat pepper plants faster lol, though after both times it happened i had massive pepper crops on those plants.........

[@jackm4714]

I thought I had horn horn worms on my shishito plants until I realized I had just been harvesting more than I thought!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@patriciasimmon6854]

Thanks Luke. Was just wondering if I would need to stake my pepper plants. Right now the fruits are mainly small, but I do have some roasting types. I found a crazy big tomato hornworm on my Schwarzbeeren plant(solanum nigrum).

[@MIgardener]

It wouldn’t hurt to stake them to keep them growing straight. I personally would.

[@kinremnant4616]

Haven't had any issues yet with peppers with stress to the stem. Have had issues with flies laying there eggs in my bell pepper last year which I wasn't expecting to be an issue. Did have issues with blossom end rot or damaged tissue from water touching it and it getting some kind of issue. Grown Bell Peppers before and never had that issue before.

[@Doctoranthetardis]

I usually dont stake my peppers, however in containers they can tip over so you can put a steak in the ground behind it and it works well. If you're into bonsai peppers not staking them leads to much woodier stems and more interesting shapes.

[@ricknewman3373]

I have been a surveyor for 45 years and i have never used those stakes for doing topography. We use them to set grade. We use very expensive instruments. LOL. We do not use 1x1 stakes. We use a standard lath about 1/4 x 2 in x4 ft.

[@fertilehomestead8879]

I have gotten one on my pepper plants. It was very small and I saw it out of the corner of my eye. I squashed the baby horn worm and it felt good, lol.

[@mbethwamatfonsi3563]

thanks man

[@JK_341]

Oh good, another fellow t-shirt basket user! 😂

[@nikkisevenski9207]

I have discovered this year that my pepper plants need to be staked. It gets really windy where I live and my peppers blew over. 😬 Fortunately they didn’t break!

[@paulwilliams4900]

We are in western Arkansas. I have gardened my whole life. I have never seen pests like we have them this year on EVERYTHING. Sadly that includes the peppers.

[@teresadrigotas113]

I've never had hornworms on my tomatoes!! I've had 2 so far last year one was on my peppers but pretty small and caught him before he did any damage and a HUGE one on weeds I was pulling by my asparagus bed! 😅

[@amyschmelzer6445]

I stake my pepper plants because my experience has shown that peppers fall over in my garden. The whole plant will become uprooted after a big storm. The combination of wind speed, rain amount, soil type, soil saturation, and specific pepper variety are the factors to consider. I stake everything once shortly after planting in May. If plants start to flop over then I will tie the limbs up once more as needed.

[@Darrell2go]

Had one tomato hornworm on my soup or chili plant this year

[@vanedwards968]

Had Horn Worms after my Basket of Fire Chili's last year. My tomato plants got blighted out very early due to me not having the time to tend to them properly. I think they went for the peppers because there where no tomato plants to eat.

[@Vezzian74]

6:19 Excuse You, Luke! 🤣🤣🤣

[@averagesavage8367]

All the stakes are sold out at all my local big box hardware and fleet stores, and local nurseries. We had a few tornados recently. I was able to to find a five pack of hard wood 6 ft stakes. Had a teepee on one of my beefstakes that I pulled today due to virus. R.I.P. Beefstake.

[@christophertrevorrow3019]

We had 2 young pepper plants get eaten by a single hornworm. It put up a good fight but I got it off the plant it was eating at the time. both plants look like they are recovering.

[@kinjunranger140]

we use our snow markers to stake our veggie plants. They never rot and it's multi-use.

[@mnsheila616]

A few days ago, I found 40-50 year old seeds in my parent's nice dry basement. Any tips on trying to germinate? Found kohlrabi, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, marigolds, zinnias, celery, radish, dill, and cantaloupe. Obviously here in MN, it's too late for everything except kohlrabi and lettuce. But am planning on January or Feb to start seeds.

[@mandyhahn4507]

I kept thinking you were going to get out the stretchy cording like you do for the tomatoes but I guess these didn’t need to be tied , just staked. 😁

[@MIgardener]

For peppers I just let the weight of the plant push against the stake and grow into it.

[@phackdaphish]

I bought a pack of 4 ft bamboo sticks. I cut it in half and used it to stake 2 out of my pepper plants because it looked flimsy.

[@mattjohnson550]

Whats your thoughts on using rebar for plant stakes? Is it safe? I use them just wondering if it might leach something into the soil?

[@homelife8597]

Kermit eggplant (aka thai eggplant). It's wonderfully crunchy and is great eaten raw!

[@MIgardener]

Interesting! I will have to try that.

[@keranhumble1282]

I had a tomato horn worm on one of my bell pepper plant this year. I also had one on my tomatoes too! Gross things!

[@loloholmes2793]

My daughter has taken over the garden & insists on staking peppers. I've never done it but it's her garden now

[@TheDaneofCoosCounty]

I have hornworms on my carolina reaper pepper plant via it being in between tomato plants at Lowe's when I bought it but other than that no hornworms

[@rogaineablar5608]

You can freeze peppers whole or sliced up, if you end up with too many. I can usually go well into the next growing season using my frozen stock from the previous year. I like to use the 3' whimpy cages for peppers.

[@rg-mi5hh]

I just chop them up and flash freeze them. Then put them in same ziploc baggie. Usually last until March. 🙂 3 peppers in our area are $ 2.99. Multiply 3 a week x 8 or 9 months and wow what a savings!👍

[@ale347baker]

I just bought a pack of 20 for $5. They were clearance but I still wasn't sure if I should keep them.

[@rogaineablar5608]

@@ale347baker Can freeze them but I would cut out any over-ripe bits.

[@ale347baker]

@@rogaineablar5608 Thank you! I meant a pack of 20 of the 3 foot tomato cages. Each one was 25c. I know they really are whimsy for tomatoes, and small, so even though they were cheap, I wondered if I should still return them or if I could use them for other plants.

[@chrissyt2342]

I found a baby hornworm on my pepper plant. Took a pic and it was TINY

[@TheBlindBaker722]

I had a hornworm on a banana pepper plant last year

[@dollycaldwell4938]

help....1st time pepper person, growing in fabric pots. My peppers did well, came in early. They are now about 3.5 feet, no peppers at the bottom, but much blossoming high up. Do i cut back & stake? or stake and let the blossoms continue. thank you....love the site

[@jenniferdevinney541]

Just pulled a GIANT hornworm off my cowhorn pepper plant. Ate over half the plant in just a few hours.

[@melissakeller3628]

No problem with hornworms on my pepper plants. This year is blossom rot on tomato plants. I use tomato cages around all my pepper plants and tomatoes. My question is it to late to plant an eggplant?

[@malleusmaleficarum6004]

I've only ever found a tomato horn worm once, and dolly enough it was on a potato plant.

[@justme22250]

i never staked my California wonders i grow until i started fertilizing them with trifecta they never got tall enough or produced well enough to need it. now that i fertilize them with trifecta my peppers grow 3ft tall and are loaded down with peppers so i have to grow them in 3ft tall tomato cages or the wind will snap them off during summer storms.

[@scottaloha8543]

Do you worry about cross pollination with different peppers growing so close together?