Overwinter chilli plants?

[smallblueplanet]

Has anyone had any success with trying to do this? With what varieties and method please?

Also we've just picked lots of green sweet/hot peppers will they 'ripen' like tomatoes? (That's 'like' tomatoes not to tomatoes before theres any clever comments NTG! )

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi SBP, I brought my cayenne plant into the house over last winter when my plastic greenhouse blew down. It got water when it was dry and was more or less ignored. I left all the fruits on it and the ripened slowly through the winter. It flowered a bit overwinter but I don't remember it setting many fruit. When I put my proper greenhouse up at easter this year, the plant was repotted and put back out there - I had been giving it more water as it started back into growth. It grew into a monster and had a wonderful crop of chilies this year. I have decided to try overwintering it again - this year in the greenhouse which I am keeping frost free - but this time I have cut it down to about 6 inches high as it was getting too big. Don't know what to expect and not sure if last year was beginners luck. Worth a try anyway as the pot doesn't take much room.

Hope that helps you a bit.

[Birdie Wife]

I'm going to try overwintering a chilli plant too, would you advise taking the flowers off when the buds form?

[shirlthegirl43]

I just left mine to do as it pleased, watered it when the leaves drooped and on the whole left it well alone. As I say, I don't know that this is the right way to approach the topic but it worked for me. I recall being surprised to see fruit forming on it in January and February.

[Birdie Wife]

Thanks Shirl, chillis in January, there's a bonus!

[Mrs Dobby]

Most of ours are still growing, the ones in the greenhouse on plot 1 seem ok, the ones in the windowsills are fine and the ones in pots in the back yard are also still hanging on, once Mr D finished putting our 8' by 6' greenhouse up in the back yard then they'll be going in there, hopefully they'll survive the winter and we'll have an early crop here too!

[smallblueplanet]

I was thinking of trying to keep a few of ours in small pots in the unheated front porch, the utility room gets damp cos of the tumble drier and the garage has no light (does that matter?).

Will the porch be warm enough? Should I prune the plants back a bit like for over-wintering geraniums?

[shirlthegirl43]

I was thinking of trying to keep a few of ours in small pots in the unheated front porch, the utility room gets damp cos of the tumble drier and the garage has no light (does that matter?).

Will the porch be warm enough? Should I prune the plants back a bit like for over-wintering geraniums?

Mine was untrimmed (about 3 foot high) and stood in the dining room next to the patio doors. Have seen some advice that you should cut them right back and leave quite dry so that is what I am doing this year to the plant that overwintered last year.

[snake the squadie]

i have got bolivian rainbow on my window sill and is still friuting and i am just going to leave there and hopefully it will live throughout the winter. you dont know if you dont try

[shirlthegirl43]

i have got bolivian rainbow on my window sill and is still friuting and i am just going to leave there and hopefully it will live throughout the winter. you dont know if you dont try

Mine is quite happy in the greenhouse - also still fruiting though it has had a break. Aren't they pretty!! Madmax tried one chilli and pronounced it way to hot for using though.

[bramble]

I would,nt leave it in the garage if there is no light sbp. It will become leggy and weak. Leave it in the porch or on the windowsill and see how it goes.

[Grovsey]

Mine are still growing in my shed.....I have about 30 and hate throwing them out, but will have to as I need the space in my shed.

I snapped one of biggest ones by accident in Spet and it has just started to rpout new shoots so I presume overwintering by cutting back will do the same.

My chillies are still ripening and growing....

[Dobby]

Most of ours are still growing, the ones in the greenhouse on plot 1 seem ok,

Sorry Mrs D was down the plot today and all the leaves are curld up looking very sorry for them selves

dont worry ill grow some more

[bluemoon]

Indoors on the windowsill is best I've found as mine always seem to succumb to mildew if left in the greenhouse. To be honest I don't bother anymore and just grow fresh from seed each spring

[smallblueplanet]

Well nothing ventured nothing gained....we've trimmed down to a few inches various chillis in pots and have them standing in the (dark) garage. There's 3 left that are getting taken in and out and later this winter I'll chop them down too and stand them in the (light) porch.

I'll let ya know how they go next spring!