Why we like to over winter peppers

[heytony]

I overwintered a potted red tree habanero this year - and I usually kill any plant that I bring indoors from neglect. It's doing wonderfully even with the neglect and being stuck in a darkish corner for the winter. I kept mine at about 5ft tall including the pot. Looks a lot like a regular house plant. The pods are pretty small and seedy, and not very hot, but they have a really nice flavor. I love dropping half a pepper into a lager or light ale during summer.

[taboule]

Heytony, welcome to T-ville.

I only kept one plant from last year, a Jalapeno, about 1.5 ft tall. It lost all its leaves, kept a few pods that turned red. Just recently, I noticed some new growth, tiny leaves shooting out here and there.

[Ricky Shaw]

Fascinating thread, I'll be trying this. heytony welcome and nice first post, you should come around more.

[heytony]

Haha, thanks -- I figured it was about time for a first post after lurking for so long. The limited access finally got to me. Looking forward to seeing all the attachments!

[taboule]

Jalap-year3.jpg

[gardengeekgirl]

This is so interesting. Last year I started some ghost peppers, but they were just flowering about the time I was closing up my garden.

I had thought about bringing them in but got caught up in all the other first-year-garden stuff I needed to do, and then it was too late.

I'm definitely going to try to overwinter them this year now that I know it can be done. I've managed to keep my lemon and lime tree alive for three years now despite a vigorous battle with scale every year, so I can certainly try this.

[berryman]

I have a seven year old pepper in my greenhouse and so far it bears more peppers each year! Bought the seed from Baker Creek and it was so long season for me (Z5b outside) that I put it in the ground in late fall and there it's been. It's about 8 ft high.
I took the pic about two weeks ago-you can see some frost damage on the plant on the far side. The darn thing blooms a lot and bears two times a year...sort of.

I have the seeds from all of those fruit if anyone is interested.

This is my first post as a Tomatovillian!

[ScottinAtlanta]

Berryman, is that some kind of sweet cherry pepper?

[ScottinAtlanta]

Folks, Here is another tale of renaissance and rebirth. Your overwintered peppers look like sticks by January. Leaves have fallen off. You fear mass death. But then, in February, you will see new growth like in those photos. And the new year begins again, but with higher production for the older plants.

[berryman]

Scott, the Latin name is C. Pubescens, common name rococo pepper. From Mexico and western S America. Takes cold better than other peppers and will form a "tree". 50,000 to 250,000 Scoville units
My greenhouse is unheated and outside this winter we had three weeks where it didn't get above freezing. The pepper is sending out new shoots all over and will be flowering soon.

[JaxRmrJmr]

My longest keeper was a Datil pepper plant that lasted 3 years. It was outside and in the ground. I never did anything to protect it from the cold. It would probably still be chugging along if I had covered it up.

Here is my ghost pepper plant overwintered from last year



And a bell pepper plant....

[PA Wolf]

Can I overwinter any pepper plant? I wouldn't mind keeping my bell peppers indoors for the winter here in PA. You guys sure seem to know a lot about gardening!

[ScottinAtlanta]

Yes, you can.

My oldest is a yellow fatali at four years - it looks like a bonsai pepper.

[kchd..]

Here's what some of my overwintered peppers look like. These two bishop's crown are in a 4 ft wide bed.


And this red marconi is loaded with fruit.


Here come some scotch bonnets:

[peppero]

My overwintered tabascos have peppers all over them as well as others you sent me from your travels around the world. It's a great way to get the jump on the season.

Jon