Baby Bell Peppers over wintered indoors.

Contrary to popular belief, peppers and tomatoes are actually perennials that we often treat as annuals where frost happens. The Baby Bell Peppers pictured here are from our garden last year. Right now in February  there are many flowers and even 1 small pepper growing.

Once these plants are hardened outside, we could be getting peppers a month or more earlier than if we started and planted them the standard way. Space is a challenge to over winter these plants, which is why the smaller Baby Bell plants were chosen over the larger pepper varieties.

Since tomatoes are also perennials, bringing a few over winter is an option also, however, they’re usually larger, so pruning would be recommended. Also, generally speaking, tomato plants like cooler temperatures (about 50° or so) than you’d normally have indoors. The nice thing about tomato plants though is how easily they can be started from cuttings. So trim those plants and start some more quick for the upcoming growing season.

In the end, it’s not necessary to be able to save all your pepper and tomato plants, just a couple to get a head start on your next seasons garden.

Until next time, grow on!
Jeanne