[polly nator]

Whilst chatting to the people who put on a huge display of chillies for the Chillifest at the Harrogate Show this weekend, they told me that they don't prune down the plants or the roots to overwinter, they just leave them as they are, keep them indoors, or under glass,  and a bit warm and they'll do well for five or six years.

[simbamara]

I have just moved them to a slightly warmer and wind proof shed.

[Kleftiwallah]

My (late planted) chili plants aren't going to provide this year, so that's just what I' going to do.  Fingers crossed.

Cheers,   Tony.

[gobs]

I do not even know, why you would prune them down.

You can grow them in the kitchen through winter. Not that they will grow much, but do get along.

[Kate and her Ducks]

Nice to hear. I have tried the advice about cutting them back and the only ones that survived are the ones I didn't get round to sorting out properly! Will stick to benign neglect. 

[Sparkyrog]

I intend to try two in a frost free GH this year so now I have read this I won't trim 

[Steve_LF]

I've tried the cutting back and storing in a greenhouse even in mild winters like last year (for Bristol anyway), but had no success, so I'm moving mine indoors this year and not trimming them back.

[snow white]

Can you do the same with sweet peppers?

[surbie100]

I've tried the cutting back and storing in a greenhouse even in mild winters like last year (for Bristol anyway), but had no success, so I'm moving mine indoors this year and not trimming them back.

me too.

[JayG]

My cayenne peppers have nearly completed their third year in a trough on a sunny windowsill in the house and they are still fruiting well.
After the first year I changed the compost, and pruned the height back to about a foot, removed weak stems, and "tidied" the rest.
After the second year I just gave them the equivalent of a barber's "light trim" to tidy them up.

They never really stop producing despite my "encouraging" them to have a rest in winter - other varieties may not be so willing but I don't think any pepper plant will survive our winters in an unheated greenhouse.

Not sure how long you can keep them going productively - I've read that they will decline after 4-5 years so I may hedge my bets and sow a few saved seeds for next year.

Sweet peppers don't seem to overwinter as well as chillies, especially the bell types, and in terms of number of fruit rather than the weight, possibly aren't really worth the space they take up anyway. 

[Kristen]

I intend to try two in a frost free GH this year so now I have read this I won't trim 

I think you will be lucky to get them to overwinter at frost-free temperatures.

[shaun_darbs]

i have been reading up on overwintering chilli's. 1 website says a min of 16 degrees for the plant to survive.
so in a greenhouse would be too cold. a draft free windowsill seems the best way.

im no expert but going to have a go at it anyway as most of my chilli plants didnt produced anything.

[Sparkyrog]

I intend to try two in a frost free GH this year so now I have read this I won't trim 

I think you will be lucky to get them to overwinter at frost-free temperatures.

Back to resowing every year then certainly not worth the cost of a higher temp for two plant's 

[Kristen]

Back to resowing every year then certainly not worth the cost of a higher temp for two plant's 

They would fit on a windowsill - or is that a game-changer?!!

[Sparkyrog]

Back to resowing every year then certainly not worth the cost of a higher temp for two plant's 

They would fit on a windowsill - or is that a game-changer?!!

That would be a bit of a game changer ! And to be honest I never run out of chillies with some frozen and some dried