What do I do with Chillis Overwinter?

[RobintheBobin]

Hello

I have some chilli plants which look like they are keeling over in the greenhouse; they have the look of being parched for water but I suspect it is because we are now in autumn. I heard you can overwinter them but do I need to cut them back, remove the dead leaves, etc.

Can anyone help? I especially want to rescue my lovely Purple Malibu chilli as it has gorgeous purple chillis and it was a pressie.

Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

Cut it back, remove dead leaves, keep it fairly dry and good luck. Chilli plants are perennials and are generally more productive in their 2nd year than their first although most people grow them only as annuals.

Overwinter them on a sunny windowsill or heated greenhouse.... never below 10 degrees C. Be aware that glass windowsills can get really, really cold at night.

[kate&rob]

how far would you recommend cutting it back two sheds? i've got quite a few plants and if i can save them then it's a head start for next year.

[shirlthegirl43]

The first year I grew chillies I overwintered mine in the house without cutting back - I just reduced the watering. When the weather got better at the start of last year (2007) I put it in the greenhouse that had just been built and I had superb crops. At the end of the season last year, I cut it hard back and it died overwinter.

[kate&rob]

i'll try not cutting back then, thanks for that.

[Snadger]

The jalapeno's I had growing in pots gave a reasonable crop but the leaves have all yellowed and the plants have been consigned to the compost bin.

My other jalapeno's sown at the same time but planted into a raised greenhouse border are still in full leaf and full of jally's!

I would imagine that they will eventually drop there leaves (it being autumn and all!) and once this has happened I propose to wrap the plants with insulating material, either straw or bubblewrap and hopefully this will see them through until the spring.

Never done this before, but I love experimenting!

[Alice]

My chillies and peppers do great for me. I've tried overwintering without success - the plants get through the winter but don't take off in the spring. I find it easier to ditch them when they're finished and regrow from seed each year. Good luck.

[Two_Sheds]

I've just brought my Cayenne inside (thanks Shirl, they were really good). They're still ripening ... I'll look & see about the cutting back. I might not bother.

[Irie Jan]

Hi peeps!

I was wondering about over wintering my chillies as well, I only have 3 plants this year. 2 wax type small sturdy plants, with dark green leaves and nice sized chillies, on a par with jalapeno's! The other one which I think is a cayenne type, all came from b&q. The chillies on the cayenne one are like little orange lanterns when ripe, with lighter green leaves, very pretty and nice and hot!

Anyway peeps I found these links all about chillies interesting!

Southdevon Chilli Farm - Growing Seeds & Plants

over wintering chile pepper plants

[finney]

Hi,
i see you have been talking about over wintering chillis,i took all mine off the other week,the chillis were dark red,but the leaves were yellow,was i right in taking them off,
i chopped them up and put them in the freezer,how come yours are taking longer and mine have finished,they cayenne from B&Q,i have got hte same for next year.

Finney

[DavidJP]

Overwintered an Apache chilli plant fine in an unheated greenhouse, seemed to do alright even with frost outside and no heat. Large amounts of chillis this year, so I'll keep it into the next year.

[Two_Sheds]

The chillies on the cayenne one are like little orange lanterns when ripe

I think you got a different variety there Jan. this is a Cayenne:

[Snadger]

Hi peeps!

I was wondering about over wintering my chillies as well, I only have 3 plants this year. 2 wax type small sturdy plants, with dark green leaves and nice sized chillies, on a par with jalapeno's! The other one which I think is a cayenne type, all came from b&q. The chillies on the cayenne one are like little orange lanterns when ripe, with lighter green leaves, very pretty and nice and hot!

Anyway peeps I found these links all about chillies interesting!

Southdevon Chilli Farm - Growing Seeds & Plants

over wintering chile pepper plants

Methinks the lantern ones are Habanero chillies!

[RobintheBobin]

Golly, thanks for all the useful advice. Mr Purple Malibu (sounds like a cocktail doesn't he) is on the window sill and happy. I'm going to try and find spaces for Apache, Cheyenne and Fresno in the utility room; I'm hoping that blasts of heat from the tumble dryer will keep from happy!!

[smallblueplanet]

Mr Malibu will hopefully overwinter inside okay, but keep any eye out for whitefly/aphids - I've just had to squirt my hanoi red with w-u-l again. Also when I tried overwintering some cut back geraniums in our utility room, which houses our condensor tumble dryer, the plants rotted due to the damp atmosphere.