For the past several years, I have been overwintering a few hot peppers
plants indoors. (They are productive for several years in their native
range.) I either grow one or two in pots all summer or dig out choice
plants from the garden and pot them for the winter. Replanting them in
the ground in July gives you a jump on fruit production because not as
much energy has to go to vegetative growth, and a larger plant produced
more pods.
I've been most successful with Fatalii and Tobasco peppers. I've never
been lucky with habanero for some reason.
I got tons of crazy peppers ready for pickling, hot sauce, and drying
for flakes/powder.
I encourage you to try this if you are a pepper head. Yesterday I dug
up the plants I'll overwinter because of the fear of the coming frost.
Today is a great day to do it too! Remember to water liberally if you
are digging out a plant and re-potting it. Especially if your trimming
roots or replanting after removing all soil, as this reduces overall
root-soil contact. A little dash of fertilizer in the pot is also a
good idea.
Cheers.
-Damian
219 Lafayette Rd.