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Ausmith1 t1_ivmtru1 wrote

You can actually over winter a scotch bonnet, they are one of the few perennial capsicum species and grow to the size of small trees in the tropics.

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GreatStateOfSadness t1_ivn2baj wrote

Most domesticated capsicum varieties (C Annuum, C Chinense, C Frutescens) should both last a few years if overwintered properly. Bring your chilis in when it's chilly! If you're cold, they're cold.

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Ausmith1 t1_ivn9vvw wrote

Depends on how well you baby them, Scotch Bonnets are the easiest by far to overwinter though. I'd had some for 4 years now and going strong.

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DapperFowl t1_ivn477j wrote

That's pretty neat, I didn't know that. What would overwintering it entail?

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Ausmith1 t1_ivnak7z wrote

I bring mine into the office where it's a fairly constant ~76F and ~50% humidity over winter. That's not really hot enough or humid enough for ideal conditions but I've found Scotch Bonnets to be tough enough to survive and it's what I have available to me.

The biggest problem I've found is keeping them aphid free.

This is a good guide:

Overwintering Peppers - Keep Your Plants Alive for Years - Pepper Geek

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DapperFowl t1_ivnix7r wrote

Thanks for the tip! I'll have to consider trying that with one of my Serranos next season. Pests do seem like a legitimate concern, but my curiosity may win out in the end...

(Or maybe I'll just move to Oaxaca and forget what snow is)

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