How to overwinter pepper plants indoors
Hi Plantvillage. I have a question about my pepper plants. I grew a variety of hot and sweet peppers from seeds this year, the best of which I want to try to overwinter indoors which I have heard is possible and replant them outdoors in the Spring. I would like some advice on how to take care of them to keep them thriving over winter. Thanks
Posted
by: Jim
(2 points)
Posted: November 18, 2013
Answers
I overwintered one pepper plant outdoors (rarely below freezing here, though it did go down to 20F one night) under the eaves. It survived, but did not produce as much as the ones I purchased or the ones I grew from seed. I cut back some of the top growth and wrapped it in bubble wrap until the weather warmed up. It lost all its leaves and went dormant for the winter.
In cold climates, I've heard of people overwintering peppers in unheated sunrooms/porches -- cut back and allowed to go dormant, though, not thriving.
In cold climates, I've heard of people overwintering peppers in unheated sunrooms/porches -- cut back and allowed to go dormant, though, not thriving.
Posted
by: Tanya in the Garden
(128 points)
Posted: November 19, 2013
Tanya in the Garden commented,
ok, I looked this up at several other places and the general rule is to trim back the roots and foliage equally, repot into a small (1 gallon) pot, and tend like a houseplant until it's time to plant outside again. Don't overwater and don't let the roots dry out. (Most people don't have room to house a huge pepper plant, and it will lose its leaves anyway in a cool room.) Some people have continued ripening peppers by placing the plants in a sunny window or using grow lights. over 10 years ago.
ok, I looked this up at several other places and the general rule is to trim back the roots and foliage equally, repot into a small (1 gallon) pot, and tend like a houseplant until it's time to plant outside again. Don't overwater and don't let the roots dry out. (Most people don't have room to house a huge pepper plant, and it will lose its leaves anyway in a cool room.) Some people have continued ripening peppers by placing the plants in a sunny window or using grow lights. over 10 years ago.
Lindsay McMenemy commented,
I have a pepper plant that I keep permanently in a pot. It goes outdoors during the summer and comes back in in the winter. I removed all of the fruits when I brought it in a couple of weeks ago (I counted 17 small green fruits!!) because I didn't want all the plants energy going to trying to grow these fruits over winter. It does very well, next summer will be its 3rd I think. It has lived all of its life in a pot though, I don't put it in the ground and dig it up. over 10 years ago.
I have a pepper plant that I keep permanently in a pot. It goes outdoors during the summer and comes back in in the winter. I removed all of the fruits when I brought it in a couple of weeks ago (I counted 17 small green fruits!!) because I didn't want all the plants energy going to trying to grow these fruits over winter. It does very well, next summer will be its 3rd I think. It has lived all of its life in a pot though, I don't put it in the ground and dig it up. over 10 years ago.
Jim commented,
Very helpful, thank you for the information Tanya. I will give it a go and see how I get on over 10 years ago.
Very helpful, thank you for the information Tanya. I will give it a go and see how I get on over 10 years ago.
Hot peppers do a lot better than sweet peppers. You might as well give up on bells.
And on those hot peppers: I have to warn you: they won't really "thrive" over winter. They like nice warm days and nights, plus plenty of sun. Your goal is just to keep them alive. Don't over-water, make sure they get sunlight, and just generally keep an eye on them. They won't like being inside... but when they go out again in the spring, they'll perk up and start producing. I've kept cayennes and habeneros through the winter multiple times.
And on those hot peppers: I have to warn you: they won't really "thrive" over winter. They like nice warm days and nights, plus plenty of sun. Your goal is just to keep them alive. Don't over-water, make sure they get sunlight, and just generally keep an eye on them. They won't like being inside... but when they go out again in the spring, they'll perk up and start producing. I've kept cayennes and habeneros through the winter multiple times.
Posted
by: David Goodman
(69 points)
Posted: November 22, 2013
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