Chilli plants- getting too cold???

[Nicos]

I've noticed the temperatures dropping at night for the last couple of weeks.
At what point should I be digging up my outdoor chilli plants so as to overwinter them?
The plants look very healthy- but I'm still waiting for my first chilli

Is fleecing at night the first option?

Never had such healthy plants...previously I've let the cold get to them...so I want to get this right!!!

Also- my outdoor bell peppers are the size of golf balls

Advice please!!!!

Ta!

[Two_Sheds]

I've had no fruit from my outdoor ones this year (except a couple back in July. It's been too cold this summer. Even in last year's wet summer they did really well.

I'm going to let the frost have them.

[womble]

I suppose it depends if they have any chillies on them and if you are just waiting for them to ripen, or if they have no fruit on them at all.

It also depends if you've got somewhere to keep them, I keep all mine in pots now and about now, move some into the front porch where they keep going until the weather gets really cold, on really cold nights I move the 2 or 3 plants I want to keep going throughout winter inside for the night and then out to the porch when it's warm enough again.

[Nicos]

They are covered with green chillies- I have about 6 plants, all different varieties. The only red chilli is one which I accidentally knocked off whilst watering which ripened on the windowsill.
The only place I have to put them is in the lounge next to a radiator ( not on yet) or in a cool dark barn.
Doesn't sound very hopeful does it????

They're in the ground- not in pots.

We're still getting warm/hot days- it's the night which is the worry just at the moment....

[womble]

It's always hopeful when they are covered in chillies.

If you can cloche them where they are, they will keep going for a surprisingly long time, certainly where you are, to enable you to get a good crop, I would have thought.

Or could you throw together a leanto mini greenhouse, or don't you have any windowsills?

[Nicos]

Cloche- good idea- I have some frames somewhere. got a lot of bubblewrap but no clear plastic- that'd be OK wouldn't it?

No windowsills to talk about

Got 2 small plastic greenhouses which would just about hold one each....Hmm...that's got me thinking!

Anyone know the min night temp they can cope with without dropping /affecting the chillies????

[womble]

Anyone know the min night temp they can cope with without dropping /affecting the chillies????

Well I wouldn't swear it, but I think mine have been under freezing a few times, but under cover, so presumably out of frost's way.
I kept mine going last winter by putting them in the front porch for most of the time and only bringing them in when the temp dropped very low at night and we had that really cold weather during the day.
I think mine have gone toes up at about -2, -3, or -4 degrees C, but again I wouldn't swear it.

[HotStuff]

Anyone know the min night temp they can cope with without dropping /affecting the chillies????

Ideally you want to keep them at a minimum 10C/50F.

[Nicos]

OK- just checked the min/max thermometer...says 15C min

Ok - that was next to the house..now put next to the plants
Thanks

[TonyF]

I wouldn't worry about the chillies too much. I've half a dozen plants that are laden with chillies and they've just started to ripen despite being regularly watered and having great sunshine for weeks.

Last year I just left mine, think the knack is to pick them regularly, like tomatoes, until you think it's close to going to frost, then move them, mine seem very happy despite nights being cooler tho I am a bit further south than you Nicos.

[TonyF]

Also- my outdoor bell peppers are the size of golf balls Ta!

Mine are huge but no sign of ripening on the plant, does anybody else cut them and let them ripen in the sunshine?