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Chilli plants - keep or chuck and start again next year?
Katy1
Posts: 4
in Fruit & veg
Hi We've just had our first, so it's time to bring in our chilli and pepper plants from our unheated polytunnel. The problem I have is not enough room in the house to keep all of the plants through the winter. So my question is, is it worth the hassle of trying to keep chilli and pepper plants over winter, or should I just compost the lot and sow fresh next spring? What are the advantages of keeping them? Thanks!
0
Posts
IME it's not worth the hassle of trying to overwinter them on windowsills or suchlike. They still dropped the majority of their leaves in my case, so messy etc, plus ensuring dont get frosted begind the curtains. I now always sow again the next spring. Honestly dont know if any advantages, but am sure someone will- possibly earlier to fruit the following year? J.
There are some varieties that are specifically suitable for taking through the Winter, but most should be chucked.
I have kept my chilli plant that I obtained from the supermarket last yeart and it came round a treat. It kept most of its leaves and I have had quite a few chillies from my it. However my plant is rather small (about 10"). I wonder if I could get a bigger plane next year if I plant from seed. I think I will try this.
Technically they're perennials, like toms, but most succumb either to weather or disease. Even if they're kept alive, the production usually drops.
Size of plant depends on variety, June. Your 10-inch plant sounds like a small bush variety. If you want a larger plant from seed, there are plenty around. Check out the seed packets at a garden centre.
Might chuck most but keep a few.
Start them off much earlier than you would tomatoes.
Good advice. Chillies always take longer than toms to get to planting out stage.
Too much hassle to over winter I think, but I do start them off in January as they need a long growing period. However, when frost threatens I do move my plants into a leanto so I can still pick fresh chillies. Once the leaves start falling I cut the stem from the base and hang it to dry and store the chillies when they are throughlly dry.
I discovered something by accident last season. Forgot to harvest some chillies as the cold weather descended. They ended up freeze-dried on the plants. I used them all through the winter.