Chilli Plants

[Dane End Dolly]

Last year, my chilli plants in the house got greenfly and the leaves were kind of sticky. so as i got colder i put them in the unheated greenhouse, which was empty, and there they have stayed. They have lost their leaves, but the inside of the greenhouse although unheated, did not ice over during the freeze. Do you think that they will come back again this year or are they no more.

Any advice on chillis most welcome.

Oh one of the plants was apache and i cannot remember what the other one was.

[HeyWayne]

I'm pretty sure chillis need to be kept at a tempreature of at least 10 degrees C (possibly warmer). I'd imagine that an unheated greenhouse would regularly drop below that - even if it doesn't freeze.

Mine are all on sunny windowsills in the house and I do get the occasional burst of aphids. Best method I've found is the old fashioned squish patrol.

The sticky substance you're finding I think is called honeydew - the aphids secrete this (not sure why, but ants love it which is why you will often find ants "farming" aphids, and defending them against predators).

If they're without foliage (and subsequently aphids) I might suggest bringing them in now.

Do a quick search on here - it's been discussed many times.

Good luck.

[Flummery]

I think if they've lost their leaves they've had it. You can keep them going indoors but they do need the warmth - then they stay green. Chillies are a martyr to aphids in my experience. I usually spray them regularly with water with a little bit of washing up liquid in it.

[Dane End Dolly]

Thanks Heywayne

I will bring them in tonight

[perkin]

I have 2 jalepeno plants from last year which I moved from the greenhouse to an unheated room in November after cutting back a few of the longer/taller 'branches'. One of them has recently started to show signs of fresh new growth so I've moved them into a heated room now. I'll probably still sow some new seeds, but am curious to see what (if any) crop I get from these this year.