East County San Diego
4 jalapenos that were overwintered (year 2)
Did some pruning in winter
They're producing well (more than last year)
They're probably 18 inches apart at the stems in a square, branches overlap
I'd like to overwinter the year-one serano in the lower right
Thoughts:
1) Pull and transplant 2 of the dormant jalapenos this winter to see if they last (maybe into pots then ground next spring) and keep other 2
2) Prune all 4 jalapenos hard during winter (and maybe transplant the serano)
3) Pull all 4 jalepenenos and plant 2 further apart
Thoughts? Maybe a 4th option.
by MedJesters
3 Comments
By chance do you use any shadecloth and what zone?
Zone 7b, Central Oklahoma here, not really close to Diego but hey lol
I have a 4 year old Serrano that is very productive, A large very productive 3 year old red savina habanero, and a pair of 3 year old jalapenos. Plus several two year (so far) peppers. I have never done the traditional overwinter method of cutting mine way back, and putting them out into the garage, etc.
Mine grow in largish pots with 5 gallons being the average size. My serrano, and jalapenos all have 5.3 gallon pots, but some others have 7, or 10 gallon pots. I bring them indoors and place them in windows, and/or under lights to grow for the winter months. I did this with all of last year’s pepper’s then hardened them off again, and onto the porch/patio in Spring. I am fortunate right now to have the space to bring 30 pepper plants in pots indoors, and the time to deal with their care until they go back outside.
4) Other – I am in the South East.
I have a pair of Fatallis that were started from seeds three seasons ago. I used to try to overwinter here (8A) using the roots but that meant bringing yard dirt (huge root ball, bugs etc.) in the house.
With these plants I took cuttings from the top of the plants later in the season (It’s August now, so I probably will cut the healthiest looking tops in a few weeks) and put root tone on the cuttings and put them in really good starter soil in 2 inch pots. The cuttings that take root stay in the house over winter. I will pick the best six or eight cuttings and I keep them in a western facing window – no grow lights. I’ll put in the ground Mid April and see how many more years they will grow.
pics in this post
https://www.reddit.com/r/vegetablegardening/comments/1djhjrd/fatalii_pepper_plant_was_propagated_from_tops_of/