Chillis in greenhouse over winter?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Simple question: Can I keep my chilli plants in the greenhouse over winter (Im going to get a heater) or will it be too cold? dexterdog

[nick the grief]

should be OK dexter just so long as they are kept on the dry side & frost free i wuld have thought. Never overwintered one myself so I'm guessing.

[roitelet]

I am going to try over wintering my chilli plant this year. It is in the ground at the moment so I will harvest the chillies and then dig the plant up and pot it.
I don't have a greenhouse so it will have to be kept in the house and put outside when the weather is suitable. I can see the fleece coming into its own.

[vicki]

I'm thinking of bringing mine into the conservatory or kitchen window sill for the winter. I'll be well chuffed if they're still here by next year!

[andrewo]

Do you cut it back hard? Treat is like a perennial? Very interested as my chillis did well this year.

[Lesley Jay]

No don't cut it back Andrewo.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Many thanks everyone! If it gets really cold I can always wrap it in fleece. Let's wait and see! dexterdog

[eskymo]

I've got my plastic walk in greenhouse, but inside that I am going to erect one of my mini plastic greenhouses and try and overwinter my chillies in it so they don't get cold. I overwintered my strawberries ok in just the mini plastic greenhouse, so I think I'll be OK. I've got 5 plants and so hopefully some should survive.

[dexterdoglancashire]

hi exkimo - we'll have to compare notes later! dexterdog

[bramble]

Don't cut your chilli's back. Its a matter of keeping it frost free, as much light as possible and of course don't let it get damp as lots of greenhouses are without heat in the winter.

[JennieAtkinson]

I'll bring mine indoors I think. I'm really hopefull of it giving me a head start next year.

[eskymo]

why is it that any plant I bring into my house to grow gets completely infested with greenflies but the plants in my greenhouse are and remain pest free. I can guarantee that if I brought me chilli plants in doors that within weeks they will be covered in greenflies.

[Lesley Jay]

Maybe the warmth of your house hatches them out Eskymo!

[eskymo]

that's not likely as our house is freezing most of the time as it's not very well insulated and we'd rather put extra layers on than turn up the heating and waste it...I'm just unlucky!

[FoxHillGardener]

I forgot about a chilli plant in a pot the year before last. It was in a relatively cosy nook out of the wind, near the front of the house which faces south. It made it though the winter with no attention at all and I only found it when tidying up properly the following spring!