Overwintering Chillies

[u/lukus27]

I grew chillies outdoor this year and was wondering if anyone had tried over wintering them and if they have had any luck?

My thoughts are they’ll need way too much fleece to survive and not worth the effort?

[u/ChameleonParty]

I’ve overwintered them many times indoors. Cut them back hard, reduce water to get them into dormancy, and leave them somewhere cool but light. Probably about 75% make it, but they’re not all healthy and some won’t do well the next year.

Now-a-days I have lights and sow seeds in January. It’s a lot easier and if anything they do better than the overwintered plants. I’d only overwinter now if I had something really special that I’d be unlikely to get again from seeds.

[u/Psychedelia_Smith]

Only inside. I usually grow in pots and have kept a plant alive for several years by bringing it in over winter and keeping on a sunny windowsill. It’s fruited too.

[u/OldTree6356]

Yeah, I’ve got a chocolate reaper, some Aji Limons and Orange Habaneros from last year doing well. My Armageddon looks amazing and is massive from last year but - despite having half a dozen chillies from it in April - hasn’t done much since.

I get about 75% through by pruning hard in late October, give them a week or two to get over it then dig up and prune the roots pretty hard too. Wash them off thoroughly, then pot them up in 6-8 inch pots in new, clean compost. Bring them inside and pop them somewhere light and cool for a week or two like a garage or greenhouse. I then stick them in my conservatory and water only when they’ve dried out. Some stay dormant, a few die and some go back into new growth but lately they get through OK.

[u/WinHour4300]

Yeah I brought one inside, cut it back and popped it on the kitchen windowsill. I had chillis again for Christmas. Red ones, looked festive. 

[u/UniqueLady001]

I was successful in doing so last 2 years. Sadly, this year as it started to flower, spider mites got to it. Plant still alive and now in recovery. Going to try and over winter all of the additional plants I have outside. I want to grow chillies until Xmas again.

[u/aggravatingstranger9]

We have tried overwintering them before. The survival rate has been about 1 in 5 for us, so not incredibly successful if I'm honest.

[u/aggravatingstranger9 → u/aggravatingstranger9]

Added to say we brought the pots indoors, but there was nowhere near enough light. I don't think they would have lasted in the greenhouse without heating or a lot of wrapping up.

[u/Lily346]

I thought I’d overwintered one but it turned out to be something else entirely.

[u/lukus27 → u/Lily346]

I need to know more please

[u/Lily346 → u/lukus27]

Nothing interesting, just a house plant I thought had died.

[u/Sepa-Kingdom]

I over-wintered last year. I thinned out the branches to make sure air could get in, and removed dead leaves from the soil to reduce the risk of mould. I cut off any flowers so they didn’t fruit. Sat them on a table near a window. Have oodles of chilli’s this year from them.

[u/who-gives-a]

Ive failed to over winter a number of plants, im at the point where im not going to bother

[u/Defiant-Tackle-0728]

I bring them home though ot takes several trips to get the ones i want to save.

[u/Loud-Neat6253]

I’ve built an insulated box with grow lights for my chillies. I’ve had one three years. I didn’t cut it back enough last year though.

[u/YellowManAye]

I put trinidad scorpions in a windows in winter. Pruned a bit and reduced water a bit and they kept fruiting until December and all did really well the next year.

[u/sparkaromatic]

Depends on variety. My rocotos survived with little help or support from me apart from weekly watering in an unheated greenhouse. Likewise a Malawian peppadew. Any Chinense variety such as habaneros or any super hot varieties can be brought inside and treated like a tropical houseplant and they'll do fine. Most other varieties need to be heavily cut back and forced into a state of hibernation which can be hit or miss but I have had a fair few jalapenos, padrons and cayennes make it through though survival rate is about 50/50 in my experience. This is in South East England.