Which of these chillis can I overwinter?

[amandaandherveg]

This has been my first year growing chillis and I would like to try and overwinter some. Are any of the varieties I have suitable, I am growing:

Garden Salsa, Lemon Drop, Cherry Bomb, Maui Purple, Purple Tiger, Hungarian Hot Wax and Prairie Fire.

[SarzWix]

I've successfully over-wintered Cherry Bomb, we had one that was 3 years old til the kittens trashed it!

[Mrs Jackson]

You can attempt to overwinter any chilli varieties, but some will do better than others. Some will carry on producing until February then kick back into life around April/May, others will drop all their leaves and look like sticks until the weather perks up in Spring. Don't give up on them though!

Mrs J

[Alice]

Prairie Fire Amanda. I had one which flowered and fruited for nigh on 3 years before dying of exhaustion. I kept it in the house for an ornamental and it surely earned its space.
The others you mention I can't say about, but other chillies I have tried got through the winter allright but come spring they didn't take off.
I just grow from seed every year (starting early) and they get on fine.

[Two_Sheds]

If you're short of space, pick your favourite one/s.

If you have lots of room, try all of them.

I got Cayenne through the winter last year on my kitchen (south) windowsill. It lost all its leaves and got greenfly, but it survived and produced early chillies this year.

[RobintheBobin]

I think it is worth trying them all if you like them...last winter I managed to keep Purple Malibu, Apache and Cheyenne. They have come back this year but the two latter plants are a little smaller although that is fine as I have an abundance of chillis anyway! The Purple Malibu (a lovely pressie from my husband) has thrived this year.

They did all resemble twigs at one point as I rather ruthlessly cut them back in the autumn.

Keep them somewhere nice and warm though - mine spent winter in the utility room.

[reetnproper]

Never thought about overwintering chillis.

Not sure what variety we're growing as they're just named 'Hot Patio Chilli' on the Wilko's seed packet but they've produced a huge amount of fruit which I think is finally starting to ripen.

Think I'll save 6 of the strongest looking plants and try to get them through the winter and then seed some more early January.

Regards Reet

[cupcake]

I only managed one cheyenne plant last winter, but I'm glad I did as the 2 plants I bought from the nursery this year are certainly not Cheyenne, and one is a sweet pepper!

[Two_Sheds]

When I do it this year, I won't prune the plant so hard ... because when it regrew, it never got any taller!

[Mac]

I've got a couple of cheyenne and prairie fires which I would love to overwinter this year. The cheyenne are looking a bit tired just now and the fruit on them is taking an age to grow with no sign of changing colour. Should I be doing anything to a/keep their health up just now (feeding with tomatoe food regularly) and b/to help them over the winter?

[Alison]

I've over wintered Prairie Fire loads of times, just keep it on a window ledge, eat the fruits as you go and then repot in the spring. They're only little so it's a doddle so long as you keep the insects off it. Have also tried a Purple Tiger but it didn't do as well and was no better than the fresh plants started that year.

[Jillyreeves]

I have a few plants that I would like to try and overwinter, do you need to do anything special? A couple of grapes have mentioned pruning?

Can you over winter Capsicum plants too?

Help please :-)

[Mac]

I had a closer look at my cheyennes last night and they were lots of little green beasties on them!!!!! They sort of look like greenfly but without the wings! I squished and flicked as many of them as I could. Can anyone tell me what they are and what I can do about them please?

[OllieMartin]

This page:
over wintering chile pepper plants

Is full of useful advice on which plants overwinter best, what to do with them before overwintering, how to increase your chances of success and how to look after them during winter.

Hope it's of some use.

[sarraceniac]

Very interesting site OM. Last year I lost 5 of the 7 varieties I grow (as I'm not allowed the hotter ones I don't know why) by trying over-wintering in a cold g.house. I started again with just 3 this year and they are already in a south facing window indoors. The site certainly has some sensible advice there. Thanks.