Chilli Plants

[jofanning]

This may seem like a very silly question but I have 3 chilli plants in a large ceramic pot. They are all doing well and I am over run with chillis. Do the plants die off and then I replant new ones next year, or do they just keep going? I read in a gardening book that I need to put them in the greenhouse when the weather turns cold, do I assume from that they will go on next year?

[Peter]

They can be treated as perenniels, bit of pruning and light frost-free over winter quarters. Repot when growth resumes in spring.

My cold greenhouse did not remain frost-free last winter and mine died. I have read other peoples posts, here & elsewhere, where they have succeeded in overwintering.

The only note of caution is to beware of overwintering any problems with the plants.

[veg4681]

Can they not be brought into the house? Without expensive heating, greenhouse can't be as warm as the house during the wintry period. I have heard from people that they have chilli and peppers growing in their bedroom, presumably placed by the window for light.

[chickenjane]

Yes I believe that theyare or were short lived perennials. but whether the new hybrid types that we have to grow ( faster growing to ripen in our climate) still have that capacity I'm not sure. also it's poss tht the plant having been through one hard fruitng season will not be as prolific next itme.

fascinated to know the answer,but it might be easier just to sow again next spring.

[veg4681]

Yes I believe that theyare or were short lived perennials. but whether the new hybrid types that we have to grow ( faster growing to ripen in our climate) still have that capacity I'm not sure. also it's poss tht the plant having been through one hard fruitng season will not be as prolific next itme.

fascinated to know the answer,but it might be easier just to sow again next spring.

Yes I would agree with you and very useful consideration as to whether it's really worthwhile prolonging the life a fruiting plant beyond it's first year. Supposedly you can save the roots of runner beans for growing onto 2nd year etc but for the less crop that you're likely to get, it's just as easier to go for seed sowing.

[unconcerned]

First of all it depends on what type of chili you are growing. Some species do better than others at lasting a British winter. You could argue that with shorter season annuums (cayennes, etc) it's possible but probably not worth overwintering, as you can grow them from seed to ripe fruit in even a poor British summer. But some longer season varieties need far more time to produce ripe fruit. And some varieties fruit poorly in the first year but much better in their second year. I personally overwinter a handful of plants indoors each year, but with thousands of varieties to choose from it seems a bit dull to grow the same thing year after year, so I only keep a few.

[chickenjane]

reading that post reminded me of something i did years ago.
I grew physallis ( cape gooseberry) first year was disappointing. kept the little chaps going in unheated green house, 2nd year I was awash with fruit, can't remember what happened in year 3. got a feel ing H banned them as he'd had enough raw, cooked,dried,jammed cape gooseberries to last a life time. The jam i rememebr was particularly yummy.

our problem , as gardeners, is that we rely on the fallout from commercial seed suppliers & growers for most of our info. What is relevent to them is not always the whole picture , nor what would be best suited to our growing patterns.

[GardenFan]

I am trying this for the first time this year, if the winter is the cold\dry one that they saying it might be then this might be tricker than I had thought. I have cut mine back hard and let the root ball dry out, the greenhouse is heated but only if the temp really drops other wise everything is wrapped in fleech for the night. This should ensure the air temp around the plants stays a few degrees higher. We shall see how it all works out

[momol]

Hi Gardenfan,

Don't let your chillies root ball dry out, just keep it moist ( only water once a week ), let it grow in it's original pot, or if you have dig it from the ground, you should potted them ( and give them some new compost ). It is a good practice to cut it back for overwintering but if it is possible bring them in to a constant warm area ( I presume in side a house is warmer than a green house).
Good luck,
Momol

[momol]

And of course not only constant warm but also at the sunny position

Momol

[Thursdays....Child]

Please can anybody tell me what type of chili plant I have. The chilis are green and round and are growing upwards and not down. I am sorry but I do not know how to post a picture on here. Thank you.

[Don Vincenzo]

Hello!!
Your chillies are Scotbonnet and extremely hot!!!!!
Regards
Don Vincenzo

[unconcerned]

Hello Thursdays Child,
It is very difficult to say what they might be from that description, could be one of hundreds of varieties. However, the scotch bonnet do not grow upward so you can discount that one! Lots of ornamentals grow upward, so it could well be one of those. Aji's sometimes start upward before dropping when they mature. Or it could be some kind of bird pepper. A photo would really help if you could figure out how to post one.

[TrulyGreen]

I have 4 Anaheim is it worth overwintering them and if so how much do I cut them back and would they be OK in a cold greenhouse? I hadn't really thought about keeping them, but as they are my first chillies ever I am quite fond of them :

[zazen999]

Trulygreen:

I would overwinter the best of those 4 unless you have the space to keep them all. You might want to put 3 in the greenhouse and bring one indoors.

I'm going to be overwintering 3 indoors and leaving the rest in the [light] garage with fingers crossed.