you could winterize the plants, there is a FAQ on it or do a search on this forum. Or you could just use the seeds you get from those peppers. Or ya can try and get all cool like I did and attempt to make a hybrid or 2 or 4!

I know someone that kept a rocoto alive for 8 years in a 10 gal gabage can.

Pepper seeds are good for 3 to 5 years

I have a habanero on its third summer. It is not only possible, but easy to do.

I recommend you save some seeds from your plant. that will give you the required backup in case your plant should die.

if your plant starts to get into bad shape over the winter. try to get a cutting branch to root. do that as soon as possible as the stronger healthier stem will root better.

a newly rooted cutting is usually healthier than a old plant with old roots that might have problems on the roots. If you have healthy roots then the top of the plant above ground will take care of itself.

Reason why I wouldn't and don't bring them in for the winter is because of the bugs you'll bring inside the house. Think about it, they'll crawl into the drainage holes from outside and get into the dirt, even worms will find ways in. I hate to know there's outside creatures in my home, not to mention the ones that hide in the leaves.

I'd start new seeds in the fall and keep them inside all winter long.

naturalstuff is correct that you may end up with some wee beasties in your home. If you decide to over winter the plants, you need to be very proactive about pest control as it can get out of hand easily. Outdoors, a few of a bug are nothing to worry about, but the population will bloom indoors where there are no predators.

Goodness, I can't imagine not having plants indoors to overwinter. Here is what I do:

Mix a strong solution of detergent soap and water. Strong enough that it would harm the plant if left on too long. Spray the dickens out of the plants and soak the top layer of soil mix too. After 5 min or so thoroughly rinse plant with just plain water. Bring inside. In December buy a couple thousand lady bugs and turn a few hundred loose among the plants. Store remainder of bugs in fridge and reapply in a week. Do it again.

Perfect solution? No. You will still bring bugs indoors, but they will be pretty much under control. And when you put the plants outdoors in the spring the ladybugs will already be established.

I think it was JohnF that turned me on to the ladybugs. The best $15 - $20 one can spend on a hobby.

I only brought my plants in 5 days this year. It doesn't get too cold here, but the low temps really wreak havoc on growth rates.

If you had a nice HPS light you could probably get them to fruit year round. This cost is quite prohibitive but you'd have limitless peppers.

Also if they are indoors on carpet, get a plastic tarp or cut up a trash bag so you have a layer between your drainage holes and carpet. It was in a closet for me, so I used carpenters tape around the edges of the closet.

This is a 9-yr old plant grown inside, year-round in a hydro greenhouse.

{{gwi:1157278}}

roy83,

It does work, I've done it for years here in BC. Just make sure to reduce their shock when coming indoors. I keep mine in pots so they don't have to be transplanted and I prune them back. I also keep them in a window under fluorescent shop lights and that seems to keep them happy.

Never had a problem with pests coming in but aphids can take over quickly during the winter/spring. The bonus is that they'll flush out in February and soon start blooming in spring!

Let me know if I can help with seeds at all...I've ordered a lot of rare ones (all open-pollinated) from the US too and save seed.

Tatiana in Victoria

hey Tatiana..good to see a fellow BC'er in here.Would be nice to trade some seeds at some time.Ive just placed an order at REDWOOD CITY SEED COMPANY.I order: Japones,Indian PC-1,Hungarian yellow,Scotch bonnet jamaican red,Punjabi small hot,and Serrano.I will start these seeds in the spring 2007 and hopefully have something to seed swap in the fall.:)good luck with this summer of growing...hopefully it warms up soon...and it stops raining :)

Roy

Do peppers lose their potentcy as their plants get older? I heard that, so I never tried. I am going to be so sad if that was someone's "gardener tall tale".

Jen

The purira I posted above made more, smaller and more picante chiles as it got older.

I left my jalapeño plant out all winter, and it now has flowers and peppers on it. It survived by neglect, but then we had enough rain during the winter for it to survive. I never bring any plants inside.

Lars