Overwintering peppers

[catgirl]

Hi everyone,

I acquired a greenhouse in June last year and got very overexcited, and started sowing things that I probably shouldn't have as it was way too late in the season. With the weather staying warm for so long though I've had some good crops from these late sowings.

One plant that hasn't done much is my California wonder pepper plants. I brought them in to the house in October as the greenhouse got too cold for them (it's insulated but unheated), and they have lived on a sunny windowsill ever since. All three plants have been growing steadily ever since and look healthy. They are now about 17cm tall, and still growing slowly. No signs of any flowers yet.

My question is, is there any point in keeping these plants? I'm assuming that because they haven't yet flowered they could potentially give me a decent yield this summer, and earlier than my new sowings would. But since I have never tried to overwinter pepper plants before, I don't know whether they will set fruit eventually. Does anybody have any experience overwintering pepper plants that haven't fruited yet? And do you think I should cover them with fleece when the frosts finally arrive since it can get cold in the house?

[Scarlet]

I haven't over wintered peppers but I do with chillies. It will be fine indoors although try to keep out of cold draughts on window sills during the night. Come the warmer weather put it back in the greenhouse and it should fruit much earlier that this years plants. I have tried Californian wonder and they have never done well for me. Last year I tried Spanish Mammoth from a the seed swap, they did exceptionally well for me.


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[The Nichols']

I think I'm right in saying that peppers have a 2 year cycle so it's certainly worth keeping hold of them, especially as they're growing and are healthy. The only thing I might suggest is if you do start getting flowers before the pollinators are out would be to encourage more root / leaf growth and hopefully result in a bigger yield later in the year.

[Thelma Sanders]

I over winter Spanish Mammoth on a windowledge peppers are perennial plants so as long as you keep them alive during winter - they'll crop next year

[catgirl]

Thanks everyone, it seems it would be worthwhile to keep hold of them then!

[Philthy]

Hi catgirl. Chillies are well worth trying to overwinter. I think sweet peppers are a bit hit and miss. I've not had much luck with them. Last year I grew on a pepper similar to California Wonder (the fruits were all the same colour though, dark maroon or something) that was started the previous year. It did fruit again, but yield and size was very poor throughout the season, so it eventually went on the compost. If yours are healthy, go for it, you may get a great result!
Chilli plants seem to peak in their 2nd or 3rd year. With the right regime of care, they can be kept going for longer. But by then the plant gets woody, and both plant and fruit quality will noticeably deteriorate in subsequent years, so not worth keeping other than as an experiment into longevity.

[Bren In Pots]

My Californian wonder are now in their 3rd winter and this year it was a bumper year for them so finger crossed they make it through till spring.

[Vixen218]

So if you overwinter pepper plants then they should crop the following year... How many years will they crop for?

[hearts151]

So if you overwinter pepper plants then they should crop the following year... How many years will they crop for?

Until you kill it.

[Thelma Sanders]

They do start to get a bit woody after a few years... so I overwinter some and also grow a few new ones, so my overwintering stock depends on which plants look strongest/worth keeping.

Last winter I threw the lot out because there was a plague of fungus gnats that I couldn't control so started again, so far so good this year