Hi guys, I have a few hot chilli plants (7 pot yellow, Carolina reaper, Komodo dragon, naga, ghost white and orange) growing under lights (CMH 315w)since January, I topped them once in late march and over the last couple of weeks (late april/early May). I will be transplanting them outside when it's fully warmed up so maybe in June sometime. What's the last date I can top so I still have time to get lots of ripe chillis? I live in the south east of the UK (8a hardiness I believe) so chilli's will grow into early to mid September before they slow to a halt. I really want a third topping so I get a really bushy strong plant.

*from past experiences I have left the Carolina reaper at one topping as they take time to ripen. It has branched 3 times from the main stem and a few flowers forming on it, the plant isn't huge though, hopefully it'll grow a bit more. All the rest are on the second topping, some showing good new growth already.

I will post some pics soon.

Anyone?

Sorry you haven't gotten any replies. I have no personal experience with chiles, myself. But my parents grew them in a variety of climates, Michigan, Kansas and Texas. Don't believe I EVER saw them prune on their pepper plants of any variety. But then my Dad had 4 purple thumbs and could grow prolific blooming anything with very little effort. Then again, so can you folks in the UK. Perhaps someone with first-hand peppers knowledge will be along to help you. Be sure to also Google for pruning suggestions.

I wouldn't top again.

Once it's hot and your plants can go outside, there is no reason at all to prune From the top. As soon as soil is over 60 F, that plant should be fruiting and you're just going to cut off nascent buds.

If they are very stringy, bury them deeper. If you pinch side leaves below the crown, the plant will send up a new branch from that node if there is sufficient sunlight. Do not top it again.

Does that make sense? You top floral plants to make a prettier shape and encurage more blooms and less seeds.
All veggies and fruits are just seed pods, so you want that seed maturation, not more floral or vegetative growth. once they start to flower, you Let it mature.
You top veg seedlings to encourage thick supportive stems that can hold seed packs ( peppers, cukes, squash- whatever). But you won't get more fruit by topping Blooming plants. You only get more if you topped very early And had ideal conditions throughout.
Once they start to bloom, No more cutting unless it's strategic species specific- like removing suckers from indeterminate tomatoes.