I’m about to try and overwinter some peppers for the first time and I’m okay with this being more experimental vs being devastated if it doesn’t work.
I currently have 2 jalapeños and 4 red Thai chilis. Which of these 6 (would like to pick best 4) would you say look the most promising or have the best structure? I am good with being more vertical than bushy. And I also figure it might be worth pruning even further so I’m open to suggestions there.
Right now I’m leaning at least Jalapeño 1 and Thai 1 (with more pruning?). I’d probably want to stick to 2 and 2 if I can.
I’m zone 7a and plan to do dormant overwintering vs a grow light. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
by GummieBear1212
5 Comments
Mulch the crap out of them all and see what makes it! Tons of dead leaves or even unseeded straw like thick thick layer. Honestly I wouldn’t decide to pull any and just see which if any make it through.
Keep them all and the return of spring will identify the most vigorous and vivacious for you – cull the laziest ones then.
I would actually just make a makeshift miniature greenhouse. Maybe with some clear plastic and some bamboo rods.
“Gummie”
One of the best things about gardening is being able to experiment. Peppers are considered perennial when grown in tropical climates. For us, this means zone 9B and zone 10. I would concentrate on the Thai peppers to overwinter. Hot and Super Hot peppers are difficult to germinate, some taking up to two months. It would definitely be a time saver not having to take that kind of time to get new peppers going in the Spring. I’m not disparaging the humble Jalapeño, but starter plants are a dime a dozen in the Spring.
Personally, the biggest issue is disease, by this time in the season most plants have disease such as early and late blight or leaf spot as examples. If plants have already contracted disease, it can’t be cured only managed; next Spring the plants will still be diseased. So the question becomes are gardeners really gaining anything by overwintering?
I’ve done this twice. First time I went the dormancy route in a dark part of my basement. A light watering once every couple of weeks. All died.
Second time. Placed near my grow lights, true dormancy never really happened. Watered like a houseplant basically and everything survived. Although I lost one after replanting for some reason.
This time around I’m going to keep them further away from strong lights and see if I can get them dormant without dying.