Why we like to over winter peppers - Page 8

jtjmartin · January 14, 2017

On my list to try next November! I've never heard of it before but will give it a shot - not much to lose!

Has anyone overwintered in a fairly dark (always above freezing) garage? Or, does the stem have to have light?

Jeff

ScottinAtlanta · January 15, 2017

Yes, should work. The plant does not grow during the winter. I would give it an occasional shot of light with a flourescent bulb, but the point is to keep it alive until spring, not growing, not blooming, not leaving.

jtjmartin · January 15, 2017

Thanks, Scott - can't wait to try this next fall.

ibraash · January 15, 2017

Hi Scott,

I have a quick question. Do overwintered pepper plants look dead and woody? Or if they are woody, they are definitely dead? I have a few in my greenhouse (with no heat) and they look a little woody.

Many thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Yes, should work. The plant does not grow during the winter. I would give it an occasional shot of light with a flourescent bulb, but the point is to keep it alive until spring, not growing, not blooming, not leaving.

slugworth · January 15, 2017

sounds like it's dead.
Bend a branch and see if it snaps off.
I keep mine growing under lights.

ScottinAtlanta · January 15, 2017

Some of mine lose all their leaves, but there should be a little green in the stem. If they are dead, they turn into dried wood. Sometimes, all the branches die off but I can get new growth right out of the stem.

ibraash · January 16, 2017

I did bend a few branches and they did not break. I also scratched the main stem and other branched and they look green. So let's hope

Quote:

Originally Posted by slugworth

sounds like it's dead.
Bend a branch and see if it snaps off.
I keep mine growing under lights.

ibraash · January 16, 2017

Thanks for the insight, Scott. You are our overwintering expert

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Some of mine lose all their leaves, but there should be a little green in the stem. If they are dead, they turn into dried wood. Sometimes, all the branches die off but I can get new growth right out of the stem.

dmforcier · January 16, 2017

Yep. Now just don't try to water it unless the root ball is bone dry. Lift to pot to feel the weight; that will tell you how much water is retained.

ibraash · January 16, 2017

Will do. Thanks, my friend. This is my first attempt at overwintering.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmforcier

Yep. Now just don't try to water it unless the root ball is bone dry. Lift to pot to feel the weight; that will tell you how much water is retained.

ibraash · February 21, 2017

All my hot peppers from last season (5 jalapenos, two carolina reapers, one chili, and one poblano) have made it from last season and have growth good and very visible growth from the bottom of the stems. The stems are about 5 inches tall. The plants were all put in two gallon containers and placed in my unheated greenhouse all "winter" long. BTW I am using the word"winter" loosely here, as we got a very mild winter in Atlanta, right Scott?

ScottinAtlanta · February 22, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibraash

All my hot peppers from last season (5 jalapenos, two carolina reapers, one chili, and one poblano) have made it from last season and have growth good and very visible growth from the bottom of the stems. The stems are about 5 inches tall. The plants were all put in two gallon containers and placed in my unheated greenhouse all "winter" long. BTW I am using the word"winter" loosely here, as we got a very mild winter in Atlanta, right Scott?

Yes, but a single night at 25-28 can do a lot of damage. Keep a few incandescent bulbs burning in there on subzero nights.

Tracydr · February 22, 2017

I have a bunch of peppers in the greenhouse for winter. I dug them up in October. They are doing well despite an aphid infestation recently. Next time. Need to use better draining soil because the ones in grow bags seem to stay too wet.
I did have one freeze and lose all its leaves but it's coming back with new leaves off the stem.
I think I have a bunch of Datil,a something red which I think is a ghost pepper and one jalapeño. I lost my labels last summer but I basically took the ones I like the best,especially the one I think is datil. That one is my favorite pepper,ever!
They have had leaves all winter and the jalapeño blossomed a bit. I was able to take peppers off everything for a couple of months,until we ate them all which was really nice. I can't wait to put them back in the ground and see them take off!

BigVanVader · February 22, 2017

What size containers y'all using?

ibraash · February 22, 2017

I am using 2 gallon containers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

What size containers y'all using?

January 16, 2017	#114
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	Yep. Now just don't try to water it unless the root ball is bone dry. Lift to pot to feel the weight; that will tell you how much water is retained. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

January 14, 2017	#106
jtjmartin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b Posts: 1,110	On my list to try next November! I've never heard of it before but will give it a shot - not much to lose! Has anyone overwintered in a fairly dark (always above freezing) garage? Or, does the stem have to have light? Jeff

January 15, 2017	#107
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Yes, should work. The plant does not grow during the winter. I would give it an occasional shot of light with a flourescent bulb, but the point is to keep it alive until spring, not growing, not blooming, not leaving.

January 15, 2017	#108
jtjmartin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b Posts: 1,110	Thanks, Scott - can't wait to try this next fall.

January 15, 2017	#110
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	sounds like it's dead. Bend a branch and see if it snaps off. I keep mine growing under lights.

January 15, 2017	#111
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Some of mine lose all their leaves, but there should be a little green in the stem. If they are dead, they turn into dried wood. Sometimes, all the branches die off but I can get new growth right out of the stem.

February 21, 2017	#116
ibraash Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 164	All my hot peppers from last season (5 jalapenos, two carolina reapers, one chili, and one poblano) have made it from last season and have growth good and very visible growth from the bottom of the stems. The stems are about 5 inches tall. The plants were all put in two gallon containers and placed in my unheated greenhouse all "winter" long. BTW I am using the word"winter" loosely here, as we got a very mild winter in Atlanta, right Scott?

February 22, 2017	#118
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I have a bunch of peppers in the greenhouse for winter. I dug them up in October. They are doing well despite an aphid infestation recently. Next time. Need to use better draining soil because the ones in grow bags seem to stay too wet. I did have one freeze and lose all its leaves but it's coming back with new leaves off the stem. I think I have a bunch of Datil,a something red which I think is a ghost pepper and one jalapeño. I lost my labels last summer but I basically took the ones I like the best,especially the one I think is datil. That one is my favorite pepper,ever! They have had leaves all winter and the jalapeño blossomed a bit. I was able to take peppers off everything for a couple of months,until we ate them all which was really nice. I can't wait to put them back in the ground and see them take off!

February 22, 2017	#119
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	What size containers y'all using?