Will my jalapeno peppers survive a winter outside if covered by a polythene tunnel,or do they last 1 season ?

Question

Will my jalapeno peppers survive a winter outside if covered by a polythene tunnel,or do they last 1 season ?

Answer 1

In Pennsylvania, Zone 6, they do not survive the winter.  I buy new plants each May.  If you live in a much warmer zone, I suppose the results could be different.

Answer 2

Peppers do not like the frost.  If the plants are in pots you can try bringing them inside for the winter.  They CAN overwinter but they will go dormant until the spring when the plant will want to grow new flowers.

I've overwintered peppers and tomatoes this way by keeping them in pots.  They don't die but they also don't grow as vigorously the second year.

Answer 3

All of the peppers are perennials and can produce for years but they absolutely have to be protected from freezing and polythene will not protect from a very serious frost.  If you live in a cold climate about the only thing you can do is get them inside.

Answer 4

They are an annual.  You can grow new plants from seed if you sow in January (in a pot, indoors).  

If you let one pepper stay on the plant until it shrivels up, you can take seeds from it, but they don't grow true.  It's safer to buy seed.