Way too early for the caps Lyn - unless you have a heated glasshouse. Sow them inside after August in Melbourne. When I've sown them early they just sit and look at me for weeks!!!
Maybe with the chilies you could keep them up against a north-facing wall (preferably brick) where they would get reflected heat. (I think Totora has overwintered chilies in the past)

They will overwinter ok as long as they dont get badly frosted. So if a frost is forecast then cover them with something and they will be OK. I would repot them later in winter or early spring when they just start to show some new growth.

Ok, I will repot later and watch for frost forecast thanks for that. The reason for thinking of sowing now is I know chiles are slow growers and take time to produce fruits. My question was more about will they grow inside the house til I bring them outside (oct/nov) or will they just sit there and look at me like you're saying Lomatia even if grown and kept inside.
Have a nice Day :)

Hi Lyn

I live south of Hobart and I have overwintered my cayenne pepper for the last 5 years. It is on a north facing verandah. I try to keep it protected from any cold wind. Chilli seeds need anything from 22C to 32C to germinate depending on the variety. I'm actually thinking of getting a heat mat so I can germinate some of the more difficult types.

regards

Helen

I have 5 peppers with just 4 true leaves that I sowed about 6 weeks ago. I haven't done this before but I am hoping that they grow, (slowly, I dont care), in the greenhouse until spring and get a start for the next growing season.

Sowing it is for me too then :) Didn't take much to convice me...If it doesn't work I'll blame it on you Mantis. I should have time to go buy shome shop lights over the week-end. Will start some Aji Dulce & Cheiro Recife.

I have a few of these seeds to spare in exchange of something with a bit more heat (no toooooo much) if anyone is interested.

Blame me LOL, I am married with two daughters, I get blamed for everything :-)

Just be careful when pruning the peppers. Don't cut back too much into the woody bits. That's my experience anyway. If they are not too leggy or woody, I wouldn't even cut them back.

I wouldn't sow any seeds at the moment, but then it's a bit colder up here. As long as you can keep the seeds and seedlings in a warm environment you'll be right.

I'll try to sow my chillies a bit earlier than last year. They do need longer to fruit than our short season allows them. One day I'd like a chilli greenhouse. :)

Spatz, thanks for the pruning info I'll leave them as is. My living room is going to serve as my chili greenhouse for a couple of months :)
Helen, I think I read somewhere that pet shops sold some sort of heat mat that worked fine and much cheaper than buying at gardening store. Did I dream that or someone knows what I'm talking about.

Lyn, I think I read that somewhere, too. Or are we both dreaming? LOL

Hi Lyn my chilli's have been overwintered for the last four years in an open garden. They drop all their leaves through winter. Late winter early spring I prune twiggs/branches that are brown. I've grown Thai Hot,Bell Chillis and Hubaneros all with good results

Tortora I'm glad you told me they'll loose their leaves I probably would have throw them away.
Spatz, what chiles/chillis/chillies are you growing.
I am looking for another one besides what I have. Something with a bit of a kick and smokey flavor maybe or am I dreaming again ;)