Overwintering Peppers OUTDOORS

14 years ago

I'm somewhere in 9a close to 9b here in San Jose, CA. I've searched the forum for overwintering peppers but all I can find is advice about taking them indoors. I thought I remembered Greenman saying something about him having family in San Jose that keeps them outdoors year round.

Does anyone do this?

I have them planted a foot away from the West X South West facing stucco wall of my house.

What should I cut them down to? Do they need protection at night? It's going to be close to 40 in a few days. Here is what I'm trying to save:

I quick pickled some of them as well....

Featured Answer

neohippie

14 years ago

I think they should be fine. I live in central Texas, zone 8, and I've overwintered peppers in the ground before here too. For sure they should be fine in zone 9. They can handle light freezes if the plants are big and healthy. Since we have occassional heavy freezes (like one or two a year), I protect them by mulching them very deeply (like burying the plants as deeply as I can with leaves) and if it's going to be very cold, I might put an old blanket over them.

They kind of go dormant over the winter, the leaves will drop off and maybe the ends of the branches will die, but usually in the spring when I dig them out of their big pile of leaves, their stems are stil green, and they soon grow back when it warms up.

It makes sense because around here there are a lot of wild peppers growing (chile pequins), that do fine in the winter with no one protecting them. They're the same species as most domestic peppers, and while the domestic ones might be a little wimpier, they ought to handle winter with just a little help from their gardener.

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Comments (8)

smokemaster_2007
14 years ago
I just leave them alone.
Water them less and only use a weak fert mix just before spring.
I only trim stuff if it's dead.
A lot of peppers will go year round with pods.Less but still bud and set pods.
I live in S. Ca.,San Fernando valley.
My Pubescens and Baccatums are setting pods and budding right now.Rocoto/Manzanos are covered with buds and new pods.
Edymnion
14 years ago
Yeah, you only have to overwinter if you're in a zone that freezes. Long as your winter temperatures never drop below 40, there's no need to specifically overwinter them, you can grow year round.
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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
14 years ago
Howdy! Good advice posted so far.

I don't have any family in San Jose, but I think someone who grows peppers in San Jose
posted to one of my Threads. I do know of a guy growing Rocotos or Manzanos in San Francisco.
Anyhow, should be fine if protected from the extra cold nights.

Josh
armac1965
14 years ago
I am in deep South Texas, right on the Mexico border near McAllen TX.

I have a bunch of peppers in the ground and am hoping they will winter outside.
Kevin Reilly
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks guys. I'll just let em be unless there is forecast for any freak weather.
gloria2008
14 years ago
neohippie,couldn't find an email address... wanted to see if we could trade a few bare root wild pepper plants for some bare root epazote plants .
plmk
gloria2008
HU-788646650
7 years ago
Live in Oroville, CA. 2018-2019 winter was mild. Since on the side of a hill next to Oroville Lake we have a microclimate. Our San Marino survived with no help and is huge. Producing plenty. Reading, and reading this this yr will try trimming when ready, mulch, clear tenting with sides open so rain can get in & easy watering. 5 pepper types in 2 boxes. So we'll see.