Will a Pepper Plant Continue to Grow Frost Free?

Frost-Tender Plants

• Pepper plants, particularly the hotter chile peppers, require a long, hot growing season to produce well. When temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, growth slows and some yellowing can occur on the leaves. If spring temperatures drop to around 50 F, early flowers die and drop from the vines, hindering later fruit development. Wait until spring temperatures warm above 50 F to plant pepper starts out in the garden or to move potted peppers outside.

In Tropical and Subtropical Climates

• In tropical and subtropical areas, peppers grow year-round. A single, wild pepper plant can survive for up to 10 years in its native range, according to New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute. Cultivated varieties lack the vigor of wild peppers, but in frost-free areas, the plants grow and produce for several years. Peppers grow year-round in Southern areas of the United States, such as parts of California, Florida and Texas. Plant peppers in a sunny spot with good drainage.

Container Growing

• Grow peppers in pots and bring them in for the winter if you live in an area with cold winter temperatures. Use a 5-gallon pot filled with potting soil. Start new pepper plants in spring when they can live outside in full, natural sunlight. In fall, before night temperatures drop below 50 F, bring the pots indoors and put them in a spot with full sun. Rinse off any insects from the pot or foliage before moving indoors.

Growing Peppers

• Pepper plants require 60 to 80 days of frost-free weather to produce a good harvest. The hotter chile peppers grow best in full hot sun to develop flavor. Under optimal conditions, such as a greenhouse supplied with grow lights, pepper plants produce indoors. In most indoor environments, the plants go into a semidormant state in winter. Keep the plants in an area that has low light. Water just enough to keep the soil slightly damp and avoid fertilizers until the beginning of the next growing season.