Over-wintered peppers

[smallblueplanet]

Just been checking today, whilst deciding which pepper seeds to put in the heated prop. and it looks as though 2 topepo rosso (sweet) and a jalapeno pepper have over-wintered.

I cut them down to single stems before standing them in pots in the garage, and now they've been trimmed a bit more to get rid of the 'died off' bits. So they're now just (approx.) 6" 'sticks' in pots.

Whats the best way to treat them to ensure they grow again? If they do grow will they fruit again?

[valmarg]

I think I'd put them somewhere a bit warmer to encourage them to start growing.

I've read somewhere that they are tender perennials, so I don't see any reason why they shouldn't crop this year.

valmarg

[veg4681]

This is what Unconcerned had to say of chillies from previous thread:

If you manage to over winter it then you'll have a great start for next year and probably more peppers than you can eat, but it may die without giving you a single fruit.

Looks like there's hope . Go for it! Hope more advice will follow. BTW only Cubanelle and Sweet Apple have germinated, still thrilled to bits.

[smallblueplanet]

I read what unconcerned had to say, but wasn't sure exactly what he meant.

If you plant it in an empty dustbin you'll get a wacking big plant, but it will spend all summer growing rather than fruiting. If you manage to over winter it then you'll have a great start for next year and probably more peppers than you can eat, but, it may die without giving you a single fruit.

Did he mean if you grow it to overwinter it, it might die without fruiting if you weren't able to overwinter it successfully? - hoping he may reply on this thread, or anyone else who has 2nd year peppers.

We've put our peppers/chillis and aubs in the heated prop this morning, fingers crossed.

[rustylady]

Never tried overwintering on purpose, but I did bring one little plant into the house after cutting it back (Fresno) and it has survived. Will treat it a bit like my fuchsias, repot in a few weeks and see what happens.

[momol]

SBP,

try to acclimatize your baby please ( if there is huge different in temp from garage to it's new destinations) it will do lots of harm (stunting and could kill them too).
My over wintered chili has been blooming and fruiting since dec 07 (they were brought in since oct 07). Give them some light liquid fertilizer, they will love it ( per 2 to 3 weeks).

[smallblueplanet]

SBP, try to acclimatize your baby please ( if there is huge different in temp from garage to it's new destinations) it will do lots of harm (stunting and could kill them too).

Oops....

They've been brought straight into the kitchen-diner yesterday....gave the 'lil sticks' a bit of weak seaweed solution. Not sure about two of the 'sticks' anyway....have I killed 'em?

[momol]

If there isn't any huge temp different, it should be ok. I killed mine by doing so, only bring in my romanian hot chili around dec ( at that time, outside was around 10C but inside is constantly 21C. They show no sign at first but 3 days later, leaves were falling and then "adios"... .
Just wait and see, and hope for the best .

[smallblueplanet]

Ohhh, well I guess its best to know so I don't do the same again if they do die - of course if you hadn't told me I wouldn't be thinking I'd killed them, just that they didn't overwinter!

[momol]

We live and learn, if it fail this time, you are better experienced for next winter. Give it some time and see what happen.

All the best...