As a child, I played every day in the garden in front of my house in my home town of Rheinlandpflanz. There, my interest in nature grew, as did my aspirations to become a natural scientist. I now study horticultural phytotechnology and am currently writing my bachelor’s thesis on the topic of crop protection in orchards. Since living Berlin, I have become particularly interested in improving the quality of life in cities with the help of plants. Favourite fruit: figs, passion fruit, berries, limes and oranges. Favourite vegetables: potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, pickles, lamb’s lettuce and rocket.
Although the fiery chilli prefers warmer climates, it can survive our winters. Here is our guide on how to successfully overwinter chillies.
At home in South and Central America, chillies (Capsicum) are used to a lot of sun and warmth whereas here, they need to deal with cold and frosty winters. Since the plant is not accustomed to such temperatures, there are several points to consider when overwintering chilli plants. We will show you at which point it gets too cold for the chilli and how you can overwinter chillies in the garden and in pots.
As chillies are sensitive to frost, they are usually grown as annuals. But this does not have to be the case because chillies, unlike tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) for example, are perennial plants. Kept in the right spot, chillies can even bear fruit all year round. They belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and the Capsicum genus and there is an unbelievable number of chilli varieties worldwide, which are assigned to five Capsicum species. Read on for our tips and tricks on how best to overwinter your chillies and to make the most of these flavoursome fruits even in winter.
Hey fellow chilli lovers! I’ve been growing chilies for years, and one of the most common questions I get is whether these spicy plants can make it through winter The short answer is Yes, they can! Even though most folks think chillies are annual plants that die off each winter, they’re actually perennials that can live for many years with proper care
Why Should You Keep Your Chilli Plants Through Winter?
Let me share some awesome benefits of overwintering your chilli plants:
- Earlier Harvests: Your overwintered plants will give you chilies 2-4 weeks earlier than new plants
- Bigger Yields: Older plants have stronger root systems = more peppers!
- Save Money: No need to buy new plants each spring
- Preserve Rare Varieties: Keep those special chilies growing year after year
- Winter Garden Project: Gives us gardeners something to do during boring winter months
When Should You Start Preparing for Winter?
Here’s what I’ve learned about timing:
- Start preparations after your final harvest
- Begin when daytime temps consistently drop below 50°F (10°C)
- Don’t wait for the first frost – that’ll be too late!
- In the UK, this is typically around late October
Step-by-Step Guide to Overwintering Chillies
1. Choose Your Plants
Not all chilies are worth saving. Here’s what to look for:
- Pick your healthiest plants
- Focus on slow-growing varieties like habaneros and nagas
- Avoid diseased or pest-infested plants
- Pubescens varieties tend to survive winter better
2. Prune Your Plants
Time for a haircut! Here’s what to do:
- Cut back to about 15cm of main stem
- Remove most leaves but keep a few healthy ones
- Take off any remaining peppers
- Keep only strong branches
3. Repotting
- Remove plant from current pot
- Shake off old soil
- Repot with fresh compost
- Consider using a smaller pot (under 30cm) to concentrate energy
4. Finding the Right Winter Home
Temperature is super important! Here are your best options
- Heated Greenhouse: Ideal but not everyone has one
- Sunny Windowsill: Works great in a cool room
- Unheated Conservatory: Perfect if you’ve got one
- Indoor Growing Space: Any bright, cool area works
5. Winter Care Tips
Here’s how I keep my chilies happy through winter
Temperature:
- Ideal range: 50-60°F (10-15°C)
- Never below 45°F (7°C)
- Max 68°F (20°C)
Watering:
- Check soil weekly
- Water only when completely dry
- Usually need watering every 2-3 weeks
- Use a moisture meter if you’re unsure
Light:
- Provide consistent light levels
- South-facing window is best
- Consider grow lights for dark spaces
Common Winter Problems and Solutions
Sometimes things go wrong. Here’s what to watch for:
- Leaf Drop: Normal in winter, don’t panic!
- Yellow Leaves: Usually means too much water
- Leggy Growth: Need more light
- Pest Problems: Check regularly for spider mites and aphids
Spring Revival
When spring comes around:
- Gradually increase watering
- Start fertilizing again
- Move plants outside slowly (hardening off)
- Watch for new growth – it’s exciting!
My Personal Tips
After years of trial and error, here’s what I’ve learned:
- Don’t rush to bring plants inside – they’re tougher than you think
- Less water is better than too much in winter
- Label your plants – you’ll forget which variety is which!
- Keep a grow diary – helps learn from mistakes
Final Thoughts
Overwintering chillies isn’t rocket science, but it does need some attention to detail. With these tips, your plants should survive winter and reward you with an amazing early harvest next season. Remember, even if some plants don’t make it, that’s totally normal – just learn from it and try again next year!
Got any questions about overwintering your chillies? Drop them in the comments below – I’d love to help out!
Overwintering chilli plants: when is it too cold?
Chillies love heat and die in light frost. If temperatures drop below 14 °C at night, the chillies’ growth rate declines. From temperatures permanently below 10 °C, most chilli varieties lose their leaves and look sickly and unhealthy. The chilli species Capsicum Chinese is extremely sensitive to cold and cannot tolerate temperatures below 13 °C. Rocoto chillies, on the other hand, are quite tolerant. Chillies of the species Capsicum pubescens, to which the rocoto chilli belongs, can survive night temperatures as low as 8 °C.
How to overwinter chilli plants
Since temperatures can drop well below 10 °C even in autumn, it is almost impossible to overwinter chillies outdoors. The only way to overwinter chillies in the garden is in a heated greenhouse. Here you can regulate the temperature and ensure that your chillies never get too cold throughout the winter months.
Overwintering Peppers – Keep Your Plants Alive for Years – Pepper Geek
FAQ
Do chilli plants come back after winter?
They are conserving energy for the upcoming growing season. As winter turns to spring, your chili plants will begin to show signs of resurgence.Nov 3, 2023
How to protect chilli plants in the winter?
Get a tarp or a burlap sack or literally anything to protect them. The thermal mass of the soil will heat the interior of whatever you enclose the plant with and keep it just above freezing. Common method in orchards for first year plants is to just hang a coffee sack over them.
What temperature kills chilli plants?
Chillies love heat and die in light frost. If temperatures drop below 14 °C at night, the chillies’ growth rate declines.
What is the lifespan of a chilli plant?
Ideally, place them in a windowsill and continue to water so it does not dry out. If looked after correctly a chilli plant can live between 1.5 – 15 years depending on which species of chilli you are growing and keeping it inside over the winter will definitely help.
Can you keep Chilli plants alive over the winter?
If you’ve grown a thriving chilli garden during the warm months and are wondering if you can keep your beloved chili plants alive over the winter to enjoy another harvest next year, the answer is a resounding yes.
What is over wintering Chilli plants?
Over wintering chilli plants simply describes the process of keeping your plants alive throughout the winter. Over wintering can mean your plants get a good head start to the growing season come spring. Most people wrongly believe that chilli plants are annuals and will always die off during winter.
Can Chilli plants survive the Cold?
With a bit of know-how and tender loving care, you can help your chili plants brave the cold and emerge stronger for the next growing season. Chilli Plants are not hardy, so as the temperatures begin to drop and winter approaches, it’s time to move your chilli plants to the cozy confines of a indoor space.
Can chili survive winter?
They can survive night temperatures as low as 8 °C, making them ideal for overwintering in cooler climates where other chili varieties may not survive the winter months. Choosing a suitable variety for overwintering is essential to ensure the plant’s survival during the colder months.
Do chili plants go dormant in winter?
A. Chilli plants may slow down and go somewhat dormant during the winter months. Don’t be alarmed; this is perfectly normal. They are conserving energy for the upcoming growing season. As winter turns to spring, your chili plants will begin to show signs of resurgence.
Do chilli leaves fall off in winter?
Don’t worry if your leaves fall off over the coming weeks, this is entirely normal as your plant is going into hibernation.’ It is possible to keep your chilli plant non-dormant, bearing chillies throughout the winter months if kept in a warm environment. But it is a lot of work involving a lot of upkeep.