COLUMNIST: ELI APPLEBY-DONALD
Let me tell you about overwintering bell peppers, and before you dismiss the idea as something better suited to warmer climates, hear me out. With a bit of care, it is entirely possible to overwinter pepper plants here in Scotland, and there are some great benefits to doing so.
One of the main reasons to overwinter pepper plants is the head start it gives you for next year. Rather than starting from seed again in spring and waiting months for your plants to catch up, you will have mature plants ready to leap into action as soon as the weather warms up. This can be particularly useful for those of us in Scotland where the growing season often feels like it is over before it has even begun.
Overwintered plants have a well-established root system, meaning they can often produce more fruit in their second year. Instead of putting all their energy into growing leaves and roots, they can focus on flowering and fruiting. This can result in a heavier, earlier crop - something we all strive for in our unpredictable climate.
If you have grown a particularly tasty or productive variety this year, overwintering can save you the hassle and expense of tracking down seeds or seedlings again. Plus, it is a satisfying way to keep a favourite plant going.
One of the biggest challenges of overwintering peppers in Scotland is finding the right spot for them indoors. Bell peppers need a warm, bright location to get through the winter, which can be tricky in our short, grey days. A south-facing window is ideal, so if you have success with house plants, this might be your ideal spot.
Bringing plants indoors can sometimes mean bringing pests with them. Spider mites and aphids, in particular, can become a problem in the warm, dry conditions of our homes. Fungal diseases are also a risk if the humidity is too high or the air circulation is poor. Regular checks and prompt action are key to keeping these issues under control, just as you would with any house plants.
Despite your best efforts, not every plant will make it through the winter. Some might struggle with the indoor conditions, and others might succumb to pests or diseases. Overwintering is a bit of a gamble, and it requires some commitment - something to consider before you decide to give it a go.
Choose the healthiest and strongest of your plants - ideally, ones that have shown good vigour and productivity during the summer. Avoid any plants that have been struggling or that have obvious signs of disease.
Before bringing your plants inside, give them a thorough check for pests. Wash the leaves with soapy water to remove any unwanted hitchhikers, and consider repotting the plant in fresh compost to minimise the risk of introducing soil-borne pests or diseases into your home.
Once your plants have been chosen, the next step is to prune them back. This might feel counterintuitive, especially after all the nurturing you have put in, but it is an essential part of the process. Even though you are moving the plant into your home, the lower light levels will alert the plant to winter, meaning it will not produce the way it would in summer.
Cut the plant back to the first forked branches that appear from the main stem, or if you are feeling nervous, prune a little higher, to the first fork on each stem, pruning to above that first node. This reduces your plant size significantly, reducing the plant’s energy requirements, and it makes it easier to manage indoors.
Root pruning (optional) can be a useful way to manage the size of your bell pepper plant, particularly if space is at a premium indoors. If your plant has been happily growing all summer, it has likely developed quite a substantial root system. In some cases, this can lead to roots becoming densely packed or circling the pot, which is not ideal for a plant that is about to spend the next few months in a more confined space.
Using a pair of clean, sharp scissors or secateurs, trim away about a third of the root mass. Focus on cutting back the longest, most tangled roots. Do not be too aggressive, just enough to give the plant a bit more room to breathe.
After pruning, it is important to repot the plant in fresh compost. Choose a slightly smaller pot if you are tight on space, or go for something similar in size if you are just giving the roots a tidy-up. The fresh soil will help provide some nutrients over the winter, although the plant won’t need much as it rests.
Peppers need as much light as possible during the winter months, so place them in the brightest spot you can find. A south-facing window is ideal, but if that’s not an option, a grow light can provide the necessary boost. Keep the temperature steady between 12-18°C and avoid placing the plants near cold drafts or radiators.
Watering needs will decrease over the winter, so be careful not to overwater. Let the soil dry out a bit between waterings as keeping the soil too wet can lead to root rot.
Although we will now treat our plants as house plants and may see new growth emerge over the winter months, your peppers will likely go through a dormant phase. Do not be alarmed if they drop most or all of their leaves - this is normal. The goal is to keep the plant alive, not to encourage new growth at this stage and certainly not to encourage the plant to produce fruit.
As spring approaches, you should start to see new shoots emerging. At this point, you can begin to increase the amount of light and warmth, gradually preparing the plant for a return to the garden or greenhouse.
When the risk of frost has passed which can typically be late May in most parts of Scotland, you can start to think about moving your pepper plants out to an unheated greenhouse. Before you do this however, it is important to harden off your plants. Gradually acclimatise them to the greenhouse conditions by placing them outside for a few hours each day, increasing the time spent outdoors over a week or two.
Once they are used to their new environment, you can plant them out in their final positions. If you plan to have your plants outdoors in the garden, this process is the same, although you would wait a little longer until the temperatures have warmed up suitably for your plants.
Overwintering bell peppers is a rewarding project for those of us looking to get the most out of our gardening efforts. It is not without its challenges, but with a bit of care and attention, you could find yourself with a stronger, more productive plant, ready to go again next year as soon as the Scottish weather allows.
Whether you are trying to preserve a favourite variety or simply experimenting with new techniques, overwintering peppers might just be the thing to extend your growing season and keep that gardening spirit alive throughout the winter months.
Eli Appleby-Donald, one half of 'In the Garden With Eli and Kate', tends an productive urban garden in East Lothian. She considers herself a perpetual learner gardener, and has spent the last 11 years learning by experience, success, and failure.
Eli is a University digital educator by day, and due to the lack of good information about growing in Scotland when she started gardening, she put those skills to action and now regularly vlogs about gardening on YouTube where she has hundreds of videos about her gardening journey and her top tips, as well as appearing as a guest on other channels worldwide.
You can find out more on the fun of creating your own suburban garden paradise on her YouTube channel, website, instagram, or her chat on the Scotland Grows Show.
