Peppers Are Perennials. Who Knew?
I guess I'm not the only person unaware of this marvel, or the Charming Gent on YouTube's California Garden TV wouldn't be teaching it. The benefits of this information, obviously, are that 1) you don't have to start or buy new pepper plants every spring, and 2) you can get mature plants going earlier and thus begin to harvest fruits sooner and longer. (I love poblanos!) Photo by Desi Min on Unsplash To learn about overwintering peppers in various climates, please see the Charming Gent video link above for good visuals. It is some work in all but mild climates involving pruning the plants back severely with a well-cleaned and sharp cutter, leaving no leaves. Cut nearly to the nodes in the crotches and near leaves. Remove branches that have no nodes and spindly branches that won't bear fruit. Put the peppers into 1 to 3 gallon pots to bring inside. Don't water them during the winter unless the soil is very dry. (Don't be afraid to grow them in a sizable