17 cm tall and 4 well-developed nodes: time for the topping.
Even outdoors, I like to keep control over my plant's structure, so I'm shaping it into a cross with four main colas.
The goal is to keep it discreet, wide, and not too tall, encouraging the development of four large buds and a few secondary ones rather than a single dominant cola stretching endlessly toward the light. Even if the summer stays warm, daylight hours will only continue to decrease, so I need to prepare for the end of the cycle when sunlight will no longer be abundant.
So far, everything is going perfectly: daytime temperatures are still above 30°C, the nights aren't too cool, and there are no signs of pests. Hopefully, the tomatoes and basil growing nearby will help protect it from some of them until harvest.