Overwintering chillis - with aphids! Any point?

[sandspider]

Hi all

Popped out to the greenhouse today to prepare a few chilli and pepper plants for overwintering. Alas, to my horror, two of the plants I wanted to overwinter (of course) have picked up an aphid infestation in the past few days. I cut off all the foliage (with aphids) and disposed of it, and left the stumps out in the wind and rain to try and chase the aphids away. (I can see visible aphids in the soil, though they're now making a break for healthier climes).

Is there any point my attempting to overwinter these plants now? Will the aphids persist in the soil, the stems etc and hatch again in spring? Or will the plants be too drained to survive the winter? They looked pretty healthy until I de-foliaged them, just a few holes in a few of the tip leaves, and still producing chillies and peppers...

Thanks.

[sandspider]

I also don't want to fill my house with aphids!

[Chilli-head Huw]

Sandspider, I had the same issue so I have taken all the leaves off, repotted in new compost and hopefully this will solve the aphid problem. I will know more after winter.

[sandspider]

Yeah, that's what I did too. No sign of the little buggers yet, but Spring will be the key... Plenty of little flies seem to be coming out of the compost though.

[Scarlet]

Plenty of little flies seem to be coming out of the compost though.

That's usually a sign that the compost is too wet. Water sparingly.

[sandspider]

Ahh, thanks. I did wonder if I was watering too much. (Or too little...) I also think the compost attracts any little flies from elsewhere in the house.

[Scarlet]

If you water from the bottom the top of the compost should stay fairly dry. They don't need much water during the winter.

[sparrow100]

I've got 10 chilli plants overwintering at home - habaneros, jalapenos, chenzo and lemon drop. When I first took them in from the culticaves on the plot they got infested with aphids. I give them a cold shower upside down (plaggy bag over the pot) every few weeks and spend an hour or so every other day on squish patrol. There are hardly any aphids now - and they are all still fruiting.

[Bren In Pots]

Wonder if it would help to have 'something 'covering the soil like vermiculite or even crushed egg shells.

[Scarlet]

Or maybe a couple of fly strips placed on the top. I did read into making my own with sugar and water once ... I'll have a look!