Pinching off blooms is just an option not any requirement. If you remove them you can lose early fruit. if you don't remove them and the plant can't cope with the demands it just drops them or aborts the fruit if pollinated. So the choice is yours. Some do it, others never do.

But do keep in mind that very often early blooming on young small plants is a symptom that the plant is already stressed for some reason. Something about its current growing conditions may need fixing.

Dave

So would it necessarily mean that my plants will grow any slower in foliage and height if I don't pinch flowers?

Not really. If growth is slowed it is most likely due to whatever is stressing them and causing them to bloom early. Assuming you have multiple plants why not try and experiment - remove these early blooms from half and leave them on the other half of plants. See what differences develop.

Meanwhile try to determine what might be stressing them - needing transplant because root bound in container, over-watered, over or under fed, any pests, etc.

Dave

Great! Thank you, that was very helpful. I've done so much research and you have given me my answer.