Chilli Peppers

[kranser]

Does anyone have any tips for growing Chilli Pepper plants over winter as perennial plants?

I've heard that they can be kept for years - even if they are placed outside in a cold greenhouse over winter, as long as they are kept frost free. Is that correct?

I've also heard that they do well in doors as long as they get plenty of daylight.

Someone is offering me a plant to buy - but it seems the wrong time of year to buy plants. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,
Kranser.

[PLUMPUDDING]

I've grown some Alberto's Locoto - Rocoto chillis from seed the year before last and over-wintered two plants in a cold conservatory. I pruned the plants quite hard in autumn as they had grown quite large. They start into growth when the weather warms up in spring and are in flower by April/May so you get a really early crop.

These two plants have been pruned back now and are being kept on the dry side over winter. I'm doing the same with a Lemon chilli also from the Real Seed company to see how that one does.

If you'd like some seeds of the Rocoto let me know as I've saved quite a few. The chillis have purple flowers, and nice fat juicy, quite hot fruits with black seeds.

I think the lowest temperature they had to put up with in the conservatory was about 5C, so I'll just have to see how they do this winter if it gets any lower.

[kranser]

Thanks for your reply PLUMPUDDING.
I don't have a conservatory, so it will either be a unheated poly tunnel (currently with both ends open, but it's quite long, so I'm hoping the frost won't get in too far), an unheated greenhouse, or I can put it on a windowsill indoors (more heat but restricted light).

[WestHamRon]

Thanks for your reply PLUMPUDDING.
I don't have a conservatory, so it will either be a unheated poly tunnel (currently with both ends open, but it's quite long, so I'm hoping the frost won't get in too far), an unheated greenhouse, or I can put it on a windowsill indoors (more heat but restricted light).

I think you would be better with your indoor widowsill than an open-ended poly tunnel.
During the winter months they don't necessarily "grow" rather than "stay alive". IMHO they would benefit more from the heat than the sunlight.

[alan refail]

As WHRon says, a polytunnel is not the place, with or without ends. It can get colder under plastic than outside.

Another thing to check is what species of chili you are being offered. Most are Capsicum annuum which, as the name suggests, is an annual and won't overwinter. See HERE and also HERE for lists.

The Locoto/Rocoto Plumpudding mentions is Capsicum pubescens which is a perennial and should be worth a try.

[kranser]

Thanks Alan for the excellent information,

It's a Purple Tiger which, although is not on the wiki list, I believe it is a Capsicum annuum. So I guess there would be little point in me purchasing it as it will probably die off in winter.


Thanks again for the help Alan.

Kranser.

As WHRon says, a polytunnel is not the place, with or without ends. It can get colder under plastic than outside.

Another thing to check is what species of chili you are being offered. Most are Capsicum annuum which, as the name suggests, is an annual and won't overwinter. See HERE and also HERE for lists.

The Locoto/Rocoto Plumpudding mentions is Capsicum pubescens which is a perennial and should be worth a try.

[alan refail]

Purple Tiger is a new one on me, but it is definitely Capsicum annuum according to HERE

[Primrose]

I did experiment once trying to grow some plants over the winter on a window sill but sadly they got finished off by whitefly. Whether it was lack of ventilation and air movement which finished them off, or lack of light/sunshine which made them more vulnerable to these insects, I don't know.

[PLUMPUDDING]

My plants were quite badly affected by whitefly this year, but I hung a yellow sticky trap near them and when I'd pruned them hard back that cleared the whitefly completely. The new growth they've put on is clean.

[Colin_M]

As a late joiner to this thread, I'd just say to Kranser, go for it.

Provided you choose your variety as Alan has suggested and keep them indoors, it can be very worthwhile, You'll also start the new season with a mature plant that's well ahead of that year's seedlings.

I had some Chillis that I started back in 2000. The initial lot lasted a good 4 years and I've since carried on with their offspring. Guess I have an unusual variety because mine are in full flower & fruit at the moment.

Final point, as per Plumpidding's comment, mine always seem to suffer from aphids over the early winter and Spring.

[kranser]

My plants were quite badly affected by whitefly this year, but I hung a yellow sticky trap near them and when I'd pruned them hard back that cleared the whitefly completely. The new growth they've put on is clean.

When hard pruning them, is it important to leave a few leaves to enable the plant to make best use of the available light - or can they be pruned back to just the stem to enable them to survive in the winter?

Kranser.

[PLUMPUDDING]

I just pruned them back to short stems just above a node and they have sent out new shoots from there. I don't feed them over winter so they don't put on too much soft growth.

I've just tried out what I think will work, but it is only trial and error, so if anyone else has any suggestions on this I'd be very interested.

[cevenol jardin]

I hate to disagree with Alan but I do I've had a capsicum annum growing in an unheated tunnel for 3 years and several other over 2 years. I've only just pulled them up because I had a mealy bug infestation, otherwise they'd still be going strong. Lowest temps were -7c and they still held out, cut back as plumpudding suggests they resprout in spring and give a an early crop from about April. Here but I would think only a couple of weeks difference to England.

I've dug up a few plants this year and put them in pots to carry on growing in the house C.annuum, C.Pubescens , and C.Chinense not sure how they will take the shock of being yanked out of the ground one is looking very unhappy indeed but others that were grown in pots seem fine.

[alan refail]

CJ

I'm here to be disagreed with

I have to admit that I have never had a Capsicum annuum plant still alive by the beginning of November, so have had nothing to overwinter

I mostly grow Cayenne types which fruit then die. This year they hardly bothered with the former before doing the latter

Give me some hope and tell us what varieties of Capsicum annuum you have kept going.

Alan

[cevenol jardin]

The Capsicum Annuums that kept going in my unheated tunnel were:
Doux d'Espagne aka Sweet Spanish Mammoth
Cayenne
Golden Greek Pepperoncini
Barcelona Paprika
Hot Thai Red
Topepo

plus some others I don't know what they were as the wild boar turfed them up and i lost the labels.

The Golden Greek Pepperoncini in particular is really hardy, very early to fruit and goes right through the season. I'd recommend it for a northern climate.

The strain of cayenne I've got (originally came from Vilmorin) seems unstopable I've got plenty of seeds if you would like some. I also have seed of the Thai chilli and Barcelona Paprika. I don't have Golden Greek Pepperoncini but if you are willing to chance it I can save some seeds (but they may have crossed as they were not grown in isolation).

so let me know if you would want to try any of the chilli seeds

This year was pretty bad for capsicums for me too; first time I've not had a crop at all from some of the varieties I grew (mainly the mexican ones)

Alan when do you sow your peppers?. I think if the season is short (we get that sometimes here too like this year)its a good idea to sow early. I've found that if I sow them in Sept-Nov in the house then plant out in spring once the frost has gone I get a really good crop, from big healthy plants.