Sowing Habaneros for next year?

[jotley73]

Hi all is it worth sowing habanero chillis this time of year to grow for overwintering for next season? if that makes sense

[BarleySugar]

I have some habaneros which are 3 years old and have been successfully flowering and fruiting on a south facing windowsill indoors. I've treated them as house plants rather than 'overwintering' plants, they have never been outside from seed to fruiting. I have pruned them back a bit, they are in 6 inch pots, so probably haven't reached their maximum fruiting potential, but have produced enough to keep me in fresh chillies through the time. This year I'm replacing them with fresh plants.

[Scarlet]

I'd buy some plants in to give you some fruit this year. They may well do ok at overwintering but to be honest I find it a bit hit and miss! I've tried several times, this year I've got a couple of habanero, several lemon chillies, red manzanos and some from TS. One habanero is fab, on a west facing window above a radiator, the manzano is the same but covered in aphids, the others are all on south/west facing windows and are all covered in aphids. Some have been cut back, some left.; I will keep the old ones going but for me the aphids are a nuisance. Best sow seeds in jan/feb for your hot varieties

[Philthy]

Definately worth it! It takes the pressure off of trying to germinate, grow and harvest all in one season, which isn't always an option in this country given our relatively short season and unpredictable weather. I've been growing chillies for awhile now, primarily as biennials. I sowed the bulk of this years seeds early March, but there are a couple more I want to try that I'm still to sow. I'm in no particular hurry. I'll overwinter the resultant plants and reap the benefit of earlier, more plentiful fruit next year.

As Scarlet said, it can be a challenge, with several variables to consider; plant type, location, environment, ongoing care etc. My advice would be to grow more plants than you see yourself using next year, to allow for a few inevitable losses during the winter period.

[jacob]

I've done a fair bit of overwintering and it works OK. I'm going to try what you suggest this year plant some chillies over the next few weeks to overwinter (rather than what I've sometimes done which is to leave them in smallish pots).

[jotley73]

Thanks all I may plant one and see what happens

[Scarlet]

Here's a photo of my best over wintered chilli plant - ever!!! I've just repotted it.
Orange Hab

[Philthy]

Looks good Scarlet. Good colour, nice and healthy. How old is it?

[Scarlet]

Just a year, I started from seed Jan 12. That one gave me a very good crop last year and it was the biggest of the habs I had. I saved another from the same batch, same variety, sown same time etc although it was kept on a different window sill during the winter. That one dropped all its leaves, is only 10 inch tall and is covered in aphids. Just wondering whether to persevere or same myself some hassle and stick it in the bin!

[Philthy]

If it was me, I'd persevere with it awhile longer simply because, as I'm sure you know, habanero is not the quickest plant to grow, and it may yet come back with a little TLC. I'd attempt to brush off the worst of the aphids, spray the plant with something to kill off the remaining bugs, then put it somewhere warm and light and away from the main plant as a precaution, and wait and see what happens. I'd expect new buds by now or in the very near future from overwintered chilli plants.