Has anybody here ever managed to overwinter pepper plants outdoors in zone 7b? I'm growing in that zone right now and would really like to get these to survive the winter into next year. I've heard of this being perennial peppers being common in warmer areas, but am yet to hear of anybody overwintering them outdoors in this zone. I know that they won't stand a chance if no precautions are taken prior to any freezing temperatures coming through.
I've thought about pruning the plants back in hopes that it may send the plant into dormancy until spring. I have hoop house poly film that I am hoping to support with a bamboo structure over the pruned and thickly mulched peppers during the coldest months.
I don't have any major evidence to believe that pruning the plants back will help them survive cold temperatures, but logically I am thinking that removing all of the foliage from the plant will require less energy for the plant to survive. Also, I did prune several of them after a major flood this year and it seemed to save several drowning plants from dying so I believe it's worth a shot.
Essentially, I'm just trying to see if anybody has experience overwintering peppers in climates that are not exceptionally warm. That is, without transplanting them and bringing them indoors. I'm trying pruning, mulching, and making a small hoophouse over them...if anybody has any other suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. This is very much just an experiment for me and I really don' t know what to expect and whether or not it is a realistic goal.
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