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 30ยฐC, 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.