If you really want to do some good research on winter crops based on an author and organic farmer in Maine, check out "The Four Season Harvest" by Eliot Coleman. It is available on Amazon. Truly informative and well-written. The answer he gives is not just "build a greenhouse". It is much more intricate. He goes into ALL the winter options except for going hydroponic. He discusses the biology of the plants during winter, how to make them hibernate during winter, what happens under a cold frame, etc. He goes through each vegetable family and tells you how to plant them (and when) specifically for a winter harvest. He also goes into storage options. Again, the best book I've found on winter gardening. He gives you the knowledge and since he's based in Maine, gives you a great deal of confidence. Within the first few pages he reveals the secret-- which needless to say has nothing to do with fertilizers or containers. It has to do with your geographic latitude.

I am one zone higher than you and have no problem over wintering them on the west side of the house (which probably gives them an additional half zone at least advantage). They are about three feet tall now. Last year, there was no die back and they were evergreen but the winter before, there was some dieback, but in the spring I just cut back whatever was dead looking and they regrew. Growth is much more vigorous in the ground as long as you can get them to overwinter. I don't protect them really at all. I realize these are trees but my vision is to eventually espaliate them. They offer the additional advantage in that deer to not touch them because they are aromatic. By the way, I never used to get bay t really perform in a container. I suspect my mistake was like most peoples'. Unlike other herbs we grow, these want to be TREES, and my containers were not large enough. Good luck!

I see this an old thread, but it is the same subject that I'm seeking info for. I live I SE Wisconsin and this past late winter I germinated several different varieties of chili peppers. They are: Tepin, Pequin, Zimbabwe, Guajillio, Pasilla Bajio, Del Arbol, and Buht. They all grew into healthy plants, and have produced an abundance of fruit so far. They are still flowering, but our days are getting shorter and the temps are going to start get colder with each passing week. All the plants are outside in grow bag. I have a greenhouse and it can be heated. Last winter I transplanted a dozen pepper plants (jalapeno, bell and wax) from the garden into pots and kept them going until about mid December. By then there was simply not enough light (I think) and they just stopped growing. I removed all the fruit and pruned them and kept them in shade until March of this year. 8 of them came back to life and produced fruit this in early summer. I want my exotic pepper plants to live a long time. I have a total of 20 plants and I plan to put in larger pots in the next week or so. I planned to bring into the greenhouse when the night temps start to dip into the 40's. That will happen soon here. My question is should I make them go dormant or should I keep them happy through the winter? I can add lights and I can maintain a 65 degree night temp without breaking the bank. I'm not too concerned about having fresh peppers in winter as I am about obtaining a (large) healthy plant for years to come. Any advice would be greatly appreciated... Thanks everyone.

Thank you so much, Jamila!!! I love my garden window - it wasn't always this pretty haha! I'm running out of space though. What I REALLY need is a greenhouse room... Ooh, and if it were temperature controlled! Oh, then that would be a dream come true. Someday... Someday :) A garden window is a large window with space for plants that sticks out of your house. It has vented side windows that have the option to be opened or closed, and they're typically built in this shape: http://www.northknoxsidingandwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/North-Knox-Garden-Window-9.jpg Sometimes they have shelves built in aswell (mine doesn't). Mine was also installed incorrectly - it should start directly from my kitchen, but instead it starts a foot out (there's a wood piece ((I guess you could call it a really thick border)) that shouldn't be there). I don't mind this too much though - it just gives me more room to put plants!! And the plants on this wood piece still get great light.