habanero chilli losing its leaves

[swainclubber]

my habanero (kept in an unheated conservatory) is starting to loose leaves,even some of the newer ones are doing it too.The flowers have stopped and the chillies are starting to ripen.Is it worth leaving it to overwinter, or just throw it away when the fruits are finished with?

cheers

ben

[swainclubber]

[Derekthefox]

I just compost mine after cropping the chillies. Grow new every year ...

Derekthefox :D

[Jill]

I don't bother overwintering my habaneros because they are rather large and ungainly, prob because I didn't pinch out.  I'll just wait till the chillies have all ripened and then compost and grow fresh next year.  I'm going to try to overwinter the auroras though.  

[swainclubber]

is it normal for it to lose leaves so early?

thanks for the advice folks

[Jill]

Mine are still OK but notice you're rather further north than me.  Are you still watering, feeding?

[Svea]

my pepers (ok, not the same as chilies) had lost all their leaves by mid august.

[swainclubber]

i dont feed them now, and it was only on rare occasions previously, but they are watered yes.

[Aussie Chick]

My plants look ok but the chillis are still really green!! Any suggestions?

[Mrs Ava]

I overwinter some, just for fun.  Wait till they loose their leaves and the last of the fruits have been picked, then cut back by half.  In spring, just as growth starts, repot with some fresh compost and start talking to it again!  Biggest problem is greenfly!  If you can keep them at bay, you will be picking chillis next year a good 6 weeks before seed sown plants are producing.