I elected to overwinter one pepper plant this winter, a mild “hot pepper” variety called ‘Trinidad Perfume’ (I purchased mine from Solana Seeds.) And wouldn’t you know it the darned thing up and made a little fruit. It’s a teeny, weeny jewel of a thing — barely worth a mention, really. But it is orange and it glistens in the sun (when we have sun) and right about now it’s about the most charming thing around.
Here it is among the many succulents in my office.
This variety was described as having all of the fruity flavour of an habanero without the heat, so of course I had to grow it. And I did. And it was everything it was said to be, winning its pot the only coveted spot left in my very cramped office window (not two feet away from my chair) where I can keep an eye on it all winter long. Habanero types (Capsicum chinense) require a long season so they are worth overwintering indoors when you can. I started these seeds sometime around now last year so it’s great that I won’t have to begin again from scratch for the next growing season.
- More on overwintering hot peppers can be found here and here.
- I grow most of my hot peppers in pots on my front stoop.
- For more indoor food growing inspiration, see the Office Tomato story!
Oh My God! Look at this beauty!
Gayla, may I ask you where you got the seeds? I’ve been looking for this variety as well as Saint Lucia one all winter long. The seeds I’ve ordered last year (from reimerseeds I think) never sprouted, and I tried 3 times…
After reading your articles on overwintering perennial peppers, I experimented with Fatali. It’s second winter indoors and it’s still kicking. Also, last year, after first winter indoors, I literally got 3 harvests of peppers, in July, September-October, and then in December – some peppers are still on the plant, winter harvest is not extremely hot, but they are pretty fragrant. I harvested more that 100 peppers from one plant in a year! Thank you for sharing the technique!
Solana Seeds in Quebec.
It’s the little pepper that could!
are the seeds for this pepper black? I have a pepper plant similar to this one except my peppers are super duper hot….i’m trying to track down the name of my plant…=-)
No, they’re typical. The only hot peppers that I have had that were black were Rocoto peppers. I’ve written about them on this site.
Kelly,
I’m told that the peppers with black seeds are called Rocoto peppers and are quite common to South & Central America. Seems their foliage can be “hairy.”
My friend introduced me to them recently and we planted some seeds. Hopefully they will sprout.
Wow I didn’t even know you could overwinter peppers. I always thought they were annuals. I doubt I could do it where I am though since the days get so short – 7 1/2 hours long on the solstice. Even my scented geraniums don’t do too well without grow lights on the darkest days
Really like your baby pepper though ^^ It’s so cute
They are technically perennials but function as annuals in cold climates. Many hot peppers particularly are quite amenable to overwintering indoors. Sometimes it is just a matter of keeping them alive — they bounce back once they get back outside when it is warm enough. Sometimes they bloom and produce fruit but it depends on light.
How adorable! :)
veggin out – great reminder – need to start some more of these guys now … I love that this year you have another pet office plant – Yay peppa!
I always try to save room for one edible plant experiment.
Love it! I have never overwintered my vegetables, but I really should try it sometime.
We tried bringing our purple peppers indoors in the fall, but they also brought an aphid epidemic in with them. I was very sad to put them back out to freeze to death – but happy to know the aphids were, too, dying a slow cold death. Maybe next year I will just keep one special pepper.