is there any point of overwintering and how is it done

**Feral007** · 26-08-2012, 11:05 AM

Cant help you with those. I always overwinter the spring onions, and this year some leeks, some cabbage and some pak choi. I just wanted to see something in the garden in winter! The cauli's didn't survive the snow.

**Thelma Sanders** · 26-08-2012, 11:25 AM

Last year I dug up one of my Doux D�Espagne sweet peppers, from the greenhouse border, cut the roots so it would go in a small flowerbucket pot and filled the pot with compost. I also cut the top back a bit and eased up a lot on the watering.

It stayed on the small table in front of the window in the spare bedroom - the room is only heated by warmth rising from downstairs - but the door stays open cos the cat sleeps in there

I began to water more often and then feed in springand then put them back into greenhouse.
by 21st May I'd already eaten a couple of green ones when I took this pic

Please ignore date one day I'll work out how to set it

I think it's worth doing with 1 or 2 plants so you get some early crops

**darcyvuqua** · 26-08-2012, 11:34 AM

thanks thelma only trouble i found with the peppers is that i have 3 plants and 2 of them have only 2 fruits the other one has 4 fruits they are california wonders just wondering if there was any point as i have not had a decent yield out of them on year one not sure if the second year would be better of worse although not sure it can get worse than just 2 peppers lol

**Bren In Pots** · 26-08-2012, 11:58 AM

I've done this for the past 2 years you've nothing to lose really just put them on a spare window sill and water them every now and then. Come spring follow Thelma's advice.

**darcyvuqua** · 26-08-2012, 12:44 PM

how far did you cut the roots back and how far for the top i dont want to kill them!

**Thelma Sanders** · 26-08-2012, 02:48 PM

I cut the roots just so they'd fit in the pot they were going to stay in

The tops were about 7 - 8ins, after I'd cut them but I didn't chop into the thick bottom stem IYKWIM

**tamsin** · 26-08-2012, 06:03 PM

It's no so much you get a higher yield as you get an early start, you've got flowering plants when everyone else has seedlings. For the smaller peppers sometimes that means two crops.

**Farmer_Gyles** · 26-08-2012, 06:08 PM

i still have seedlings .... it's the end of august and the best i have is seedlings ....

i'll be overwintering all my chillies and peppers .... we're bringing an old blowaway frame indoors to sit in the back room over the winter .... if i get one pepper or chilli next year, it's one more than this year ....

**darcyvuqua** · 26-08-2012, 07:03 PM

FG do you mind me asking what month you sowed the seeds? i have grown chillis for the last 4 years and always get a good crop pepper were a first for me this year

**Farmer_Gyles** · 26-08-2012, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by darcyvuqua View Post

FG do you mind me asking what month you sowed the seeds? i have grown chillis for the last 4 years and always get a good crop pepper were a first for me this year

sunday 11th march ... i've got a couple of flowers just opening on the biggest chilli ...

**Nicos** · 26-08-2012, 10:02 PM

I have 6 chilli seedlings about 2" tall which I sowed in May

Looks likeI need to overwinter these for any hope of a crop next year!

**Leif** · 30-08-2012, 03:16 PM

It is worth it, if you have the space to keep it in a frost free area, well above 4 Celcius. Chillis are sensitive to cold. Cut back the stem to between 6" and 10", without side shoots, or with some side shoots trimmed right back, then trim the root ball to 6" across, and replant in fresh compost. Do this early in the year, early January say, and the plant will slowly grow new shoots and leaves. Chillis don't need much light to overwinter, but they do need warmth. You will get two harvests instead of one, and the first could be in May. Rocoto (Capsicum pubescens) and Capsicum chinense will overwinter, although Rocoto seems to be hardier. Capsicum annuum should be easier to overwinter, and might even pod earlier than the others. I have a Rocoto that is 7 or more years old. For some reason the pods get bigger each year. Last year was brilliant. This year I put it out and it lost most of its leaves in the gales, rains and overcast weather. Still, I have some pods, unlike on other plants grown from seed this year.

You can also trim the plant a bit, and allow it to continue podding over winter if you want a supply of fresh pods throughout the year but I am told plants tend to get a bit tired after a few years if not trimmed right back.

**Chocolate8me** · 30-08-2012, 10:04 PM

Brilliant advice with something I didn't know you could do.

My Cayenne chillis and Californian Wonder are bursting with peppers (they were grown from seed in March). I shall be overwintering the best of the plants I have (slugs have eaten some & now greenfly have raided a couple of plants).

Thanks peeps

**darcyvuqua** · 30-08-2012, 10:32 PM

chocolate8me do you have any pictures of your california wonders not sure i have a lot of luck with mine only 2 fruits per plant

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