Thread: Chillies
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Old 17-10-2011, 11:43 AM
echinosum echinosum is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Feb 2006
Location: Chalfont St Giles
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Hobden View Post
All chillies are difficult to keep over winter IME which is why we grow them
as annuals. It appears to be a combination of cold, damp and lack of light
that makes them expire slowly during the winter months.
Rocotos (Capsicum pubescens) are reportedly easier than the rest, indeed they can even take a light frost. I've been growing Rocotos this year, and intend to have a go overwintering them. It was a good year to choose Rocotos, as the fruit will set and develop in cooler conditions than other chillies, and then the long mild autumn has now given me a good crop, though I've had to pick them all with some almost-frosts the last few nights. If I do overwinter them, maybe I will get an earlier crop next year.

Chilli-heads occasionally try and overwinter species that are hard to get to fruit same year if seed-grown in a British climate, such as habaneros. A bit of light supplementation with cheap grow-lights can help.