If you have to then all you can do is give it a try. Might make it. I'd dig up as big a ball of dirt around them as possible and water them well before doing it.

Good luck.

Dave

I did it and had the new spot ready to go, kept the roots as intact as possible, watered and then shaded for 2 days. It worked well.

To increase your chances of success, the transplant operation should be done in the evening, on a day with little or no wind. Use a flashlight if you have to. The next day, erect some sort of sunshade, to protect the pepper plants from the full effect of the noonday sun. The shade does not need to be 100% to be helpful-the plant will need to see a bit of sunlight. I'm not sure how long you will need to keep the shade in place. Maybe a few days, up to two weeks. If you notice wilting, then you will have to continue shading, if you want the plant to survive.

I did it too. (Also had total success moving zucchini and straightneck squash out of not one, but TWO plots, even though they're supposed to hate having their roots disturbed.) I just made sure to "cut" around the plant in a large diameter, and then down deep. That gave me a giant clod of soil, and within it, roots. After being placed in their new homes, they got a good watering, but I didn't shade them (oops). None ended up crispy or showing any signs of stress, and they're producing happily now.

For the last few years at the end of the gardening season, I have been diggin up and potting a few of my sweet, itlaian and hot pepper plants to bring into the house. Hot peppers will continue to flower and produce until I put them back in the ground in the spring. Italian and sweet peppers will grow and ripen fruit that is already set but don't seem to set new blossoms and will eventually succumb to whatever.

It would be a good idea to pull any fruit a day or 2 in advance of the TPing operation. I disagree with the poster who suggested watering well before digging the plants, It would definitely make the rootball heavier (may not be an issue) and many soils will be more likely to come apart when very wet. In addition, the soil will compact when wet from the digging process, you don't want that. Damp but not bone dry would be ideal.

thanks all. will do it today and keep you posted. have always watered before moving, but michael357's idea makes sense and i'm gonna do some each way, see how they compare later on. highly scientific experiement with strict controls in place, huh? open to more info ~ thanks again.

We recently had to move three - 7 year old pepper bushes from one garden to another. We did it during the winter, when they were dormant. I pruned them pretty well and watered them in a partially sunny spot. They are back with a venegance, lots of little peppers! I already harvested some that had turned red. I should mention these were habaneros, pequin and thai peppers. The habaneros are larger than I had seen them before on that bush. I have had only about 70% success rate transplanting the sweet peppers, but it is worth a try. Hot peppers seem to be easier.

Pepper plants can be removed successfully.I have moved several plants to grow as perennials as well as over wintering.Just dig out the plant and set it in the pot.Keep the pot under shadow in a cooler place.
I am posting the pic. of such a plant to share with you.

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