Are chilli plants annual producers?

[lynda66]

i sowed them end of may(i was a bit late deciding to grow veggies), but they are outdoors, and are still only about 2 inches high lol (though they have grown in the last week with all the sunshine we have had)..... i keep giving everything a chance(just in case), the grow light is a low wattage affair, it fits into an ordinary light bulb holder, and works like a energy saving light bulb, i've been using it for okra, and some other things that can't go outside.

[Kristen]

Sweet Peppers are annuals, so won't keep going - but you might be able to length the cropping season. Have you got a greenhouse Lynda? I can't remember

Chillies are "short lived perennials" so I wouldn't try for two many seasons, and they can be iffy keeping through the winter anyway I think. I might try some cuttings though.

[SarzWix]

We've got a Cherry Bomb plant on it's third season, and it's cropping well again, bless it It's kept on the window-sill over winter, and pruned back quite hard.
How well they over-winter really depends on the variety Kristen, some do much better than others.

Lynda, I'd bring your pepper plants in and keep them on a window-sill when it gets too cold for them outside. If I was you, I'd be tempted to give the grow-light a go, just to see what happens But I don't suppose the plant would need to be in the airing cupboard, unless your house is freezing?! Normal house temperature should be fine!

[smallblueplanet]

Sweet Peppers are annuals, so won't keep going...

Capsicum annuum - Plants For A Future database report

Sweet peppers are perennials not annuals - although they may be named 'capsicum annuum', the annuum tag is a misnomer and they, like hot peppers, are indeed perennials.

Here's a picture of someone's overwintered 'Lipstick' sweet pepper fruiting.

Fluffius Muppetus: coopette.com: Overwintering peppers - ripening up

[lynda66]

Sweet Peppers are annuals, so won't keep going - but you might be able to length the cropping season. Have you got a greenhouse Lynda? I can't remember

Chillies are "short lived perennials" so I wouldn't try for two many seasons, and they can be iffy keeping through the winter anyway I think. I might try some cuttings though.

no no greenhouse, but i have got a polytunnel for my birthday but its still in its box , as i haven't been able to get it up yet, so i was thinking of putting them in there, then bringing them indoors along with some tomatoes if they don't get big enough.

[lynda66]

Lynda, I'd bring your pepper plants in and keep them on a window-sill when it gets too cold for them outside. If I was you, I'd be tempted to give the grow-light a go, just to see what happens But I don't suppose the plant would need to be in the airing cupboard, unless your house is freezing?! Normal house temperature should be fine!

it gets fairly cold except in the living room, cos i'm tight and won't use the central heating lol ....... but you never know, they may continue the growth spurt and produce yet, if this sunshine carries on

[theusualsuspect]

I've overwintered some smallish Chilli plants by just keeping on them on a bright window sill, but they are absolutely blighted by Red Spider Mite indoors. I found putting them under the shower (just cold water) once every 2 weeks or so, from about February meant I had some Chillis ready to eat by about May/June.

Oh and don't keep them on a sill above a radiator. I learnt that the hard way.