If you love your chili plants as I do, then you’ll want to know everything about chili plant survival. Chili plants, also called “chile peppers” or “hot peppers,” are native to the Americas. They are cultivated in warm climates worldwide, and there are some things to bear about the chili plant’s survival. One of these concerns is, “Will my chili plants survive the winter?”
Chili plants can survive the winter by providing protective surroundings for your chilies throughout the winter, known as overwintering. During winter, chili plants won’t grow much; however, you can confer overwintered chili plants with an advantage once the light returns.
For those growing chili plants, learn more about the vital things you need to know for your chilies’ survival. We will share relevant stuff such as the overwintering process, the effects of hot temperatures, and the amount of water required.
Do Chili Plants Die Off In Winter?
With the warmest climates, chili plants are most frequently grown as annuals in various domestic gardens. Many chili varieties will pleasantly grow as perennial evergreens in tropical areas. On the other hand, in any climate with winter, chili plants will typically die back in autumn, and they’ll more than likely not return if there’s any considerable level of frost. (source)
It would help if you made plans and efforts to prevent chili plants from dying in winter. You can help your chili plants survive the winter — keep them growing and fruiting throughout the year. With overwintering, chili plants will not die off in winter; consequently, overwintered chilies bring several advantages.
The Truth About Chilli Plants
Chilies are heat-loving plants that do not like winters, requiring special attention to get through this unfavorable period. In the winter, you must store chili plants in a frost-free place warm enough for people. It just takes one cold night to kill off the chilies; hence, you cannot leave them in an unheated greenhouse.
In general, the stress in chili plants often triggers them to drop their leaves. During the winter, chilies are stressed by the low light levels, no matter how warm the temperature; therefore, they might act like deciduous trees-dropping their leaves and going dormant. The days are short in winter, and the sun shines less, with its rays not as powerful as in the summer. (source)
How To Overwinter Chili Plants
Overwintering is the procedure of safekeeping your chili plants so that they can survive throughout the winter. Not only will it avert your chilies from dying off during this hostile period, but it is also one of the ways to have bigger harvests of chili plants. With a protective environment through this season, your chili plants can have a head start when the natural light comes back in spring.
Overwintered chilies will generally yield a better crop during their second year as they can have an advantage and enjoy a prolonged growing period. Remember to try overwintering the strongest-looking chili plants since weaker chilies will have a much lower survival rate; select only the healthiest, most productive, and disease-free plants. Here are some more tips from the planters on how to overwinter chili plants: (source)
Overwintering Tips
- You can overwinter chili plants in both the open ground and containers. The approach is primarily the same; nonetheless, chilies grown in containers have more survival chances. It
- The planter can extend because of the greater level of safeguarding.
- Overwintering doesn’t necessarily guarantee total survival but selecting healthy chilies fills the odds a little in your favor. Moreover, attempt to overwinter a few more chili plants than you need — as insurance because you will likely lose a plant or two. It’s a fact that gardeners must accept. (source)
- Collect all the fruits from your chili plants, including the immature ones. For the unripe chilies, you can ripen them off the plants. Try putting them in a bag with a ripe banana because the ethylene produced by the ripe fruit will coax ripening. (source)
Pruning
- When the leaves start to drop, prune the chili plants while keeping approximately 10 to 15 centimeters of the main stem. It is advisable to leave plenty of branches on it and not trim it back to the foundation. Pruning is an excellent way to make the plant a more suitable shape and size if it has become humongous.
- For chilies grown in the ground, cautiously dig them up and plant them into pots. Gently remove any loose old compost and pot them up in new all-purpose compost. Cut back the roots and put them into a tinier pot to concentrate the energy is best. (source)
- When transferring chili plants, be cautious not to damage the roots. Be mindful that the shock of transplanting can impede their renewed growth. What’s worse is that it may even kill the plant when it’s in its fragile slumbering condition. (source)
The Top 3 Frequently Asked Questions About Chili Plant Survival
How Much Heat Is Necessary For My Chili Plants?
Chili plants prefer warm temperatures, but sweltering temperatures can affect the chilies, causing damping-off, wilting, and poor harvests. Hot temperatures influence the chili plants’ ability to bear fruits. They might drop their flowers when temperatures rise over 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 32 degrees Celsius.
High temperatures can cause the chilies to wither, even with well-watered soils. The day’s heat might also wilt if the soil is too dry. (source)
Once exposed to direct sunlight, the fruits of chilies might scald. When the fruits get wet from rain or overhead watering, molds may infect these dried and delicate patches on their skins. If the chilies lose their leaves due to a water shortage, preserve the fruits with flimsy fabric hanging over the plant to spread the sun’s rays.
How Much Water Is Necessary For My Chili Plants?
Too much rain or watering can affect the chili plants, such as damping off, withering, and generating poor harvests. Chilies need stable moisture levels and well-drained soil to flourish. Excessive moisture in the soil and heavy rains can make the roots decay.
Suppose the roots are flooded for about five (5) to six (6) hours, with temperatures ranging between 75°F and 92°F. In that case, the chili plants are at risk of infection by various fungi such as Verticillium dahliae or Phytophthora capsici. It causes wilting, as well as crown rot and root rot. (source)
How Often Should You Water And Monitor Chilli Plants?
Overwintering chili plants will utilize far less water since the temperatures are lower. Water them less often to prevent damp states and fend off mold build-up. Monitor them once a week and water only when the compost becomes dry — as little as every two (2) to three (3) weeks.
Once autumn approaches, start to lessen your watering. In winter, water the dormant plants tremendously in small quantities and only do it when the top 2-3 centimeters of soil is extremely dry. Don’t let the compost become bone dry; remember that excessively moist soil can invite molds. (source)
As the spring season closes, you can increase your watering regimen a little. Gradually step up your watering consistent with foliage growth.
When Is The Best Time To Grow Chili Plants?
January and February are the ideal months to begin sowing chili seeds indoors. Even though planting the seeds can be done until the end of March, early sowing allows the chilies more than enough time to ripen before the end of the summer season. Generally, sowing indoors is conducted from late winter to mid-spring; however, an early start will yield an earlier crop.
When the chilies are big enough, you can transfer them to their final place, usually around May. By late May, move the chilies into their final 22-centimeter or 9-inch pot, or put three (3) in a standard growing bag. Please keep them in a greenhouse or a polytunnel. You can also relocate them outside when all threats of frost have passed.
Chili plants are usually ready for harvesting from mid-summer, and they will keep on fruiting well into autumn if nurtured in a greenhouse. Harvest fruits as they ripen, typically between July and October. Remember that the hottest varieties of chilies entail the most extended growing term.
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- Chili pepper plant and fruit https://www.britannica.com/plant/chili-pepper#:~:text=Alternative%20Titles%3A%20chile%20pepper%2C%20hot,warm%20climates%20around%20the%20world.
- How to Overwinter Your Chilli Plants https://www.greenhousesensation.co.uk/over-wintering-chilli-plants/
- Does Hot Weather & a Lot of Rain Cause My Peppers to Wilt? https://homeguides.sfgate.com/hot-weather-lot-rain-cause-peppers-wilt-97980.html
- How to grow chili peppers https://www.thompson-morgan.com/how-to-grow-chilli-peppers
- How to Overwinter Chillies for a Heavier Harvest Next Year https://www.theseedcollection.com.au/How-to-Overwinter-Chillies
- Overwintering Chillies https://seaspringseeds.co.uk/growing-information/overwintering-chillies/
- Chilli pepper, https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/chilli-pepper