Overwintering Jalapeño Plants
How to keep jalapeño pepper plants alive through winter for an earlier start and bigger harvest next season.
4-8 wks
Earlier harvest
55-65°F
Winter temp range
6+ hrs
Light per day
Quick Answer
Before the first frost, prune your jalapeño plant back by about one-third, pot it up if it's in the ground, and bring it indoors to a spot with bright light. Keep it at 55-65°F and water sparingly through winter.
Why Overwinter?
Jalapeño plants are perennials in frost-free climates. By overwintering, you get a head start the following season — overwintered plants produce fruit 4-8 weeks earlier and often yield more peppers than first-year plants because of their established root system.
Worth the Effort
Preparing Plants for Winter
Before your first frost:
- 1Harvest all remaining peppers.
- 2Prune the plant back by one-third to one-half, removing all leaves and small branches.
- 3If in-ground, carefully dig up the plant with as much root ball as possible and transplant into a pot.
- 4Check for pests — spray with insecticidal soap before bringing indoors.
- 5Place in a bright window or under a grow light.
Winter Care
- Temperature:Keep between 55-65°F. Avoid cold drafts and heating vents.
- Light:Provide at least 6 hours of bright light per day.
- Watering:Water sparingly — only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Plants are semi-dormant and need much less water.
- Fertilizer:Do not fertilize during winter dormancy.
Some leaf drop is normal. The plant may look bare but will regrow in spring.
Transitioning Back Outside
In spring, after your last frost date, gradually re-introduce the plant to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days (just like hardening off seedlings). Resume regular watering and begin fertilizing once new growth appears. Prune any dead branches and shape the plant as needed. You should see flowers within a few weeks of warm weather.