A sanity-shredding dilemma !

[Sluggy]

Well alright now, damn it.
 
I obviously planted my superhots WAY too late in the season.   

This is because I always germinate my seeds in two seperate "waves", That way, I still have a chance, in case the first "wave" fails, 

And sure enough, this year, my first "wave" was almost entirely destroyed by an aphid infestation. 
The delicate seedlings were not yet 10 cm / 3 inches tall and already completely covered in aphids. Aphids in LAYERS. Literally. Everywhere. A nightmare ! It was, indeed, out of control. 

Spraying only worsened the situation, and as much as it pained me, I ended up chucking nearly all my baby plants in the garbage. And then it was time to start all over again. 

But it was too late. 

Because now in the end of the season, I have a number of superhots that are looking good, with vigorous growth, and healthy,dark green leaves. 

BUT THEY ARE ONLY NOW BEGINNING TO BUD UP.  There however, hundreds of tiny buds beginning to form. No flowers in sight. 

It's simply too late now. Soon it will be too cold outside for the plants. 

I do have some grow space indoors (a closet with DIY Leds, and two bookshelves with fluorescent tubes), but that space is already occupied by clones and even new seedlings. 

Taking outdoor plants inside is nearly always a bad idea, anyhow. 

What to do ? 

1) Try to keep them going indoors with natural light ? I really doubt the winter light (in Northern Europe) will be sufficient for the plants to start flowering, much less fruiting. In addition, having a whole bunch of plants indoors will almost certainly invite more aphids, which could jeopardize next years seedlings. 

2) Rigorous pruning and overwintering. This also sucks, because the plants are looking good, and it seems like a waste to throw out all these branches that the plant invested so much energy in.
Upside is I have some room on the stairs of my apartment where they get natural light and where temps don't drop below freezing.

It's a real dilemma... Questions, questions....  









 

 

[geeme]

Perspective is everything.
 
I hear you about the aphids - I've gone through this, myself. You have some other options that are not listed above. Alternately, you can restate what you listed above and choose to look at it in a more positive light. For example, instead of looking at "rigorous" pruning and overwintering as a waste of time, you can choose to look at it as head-start to next year's grow. That said, you don't have to be drastic in your pruning to achieve the desired effects. I have pruned plants down to about a 6" stump to overwinter, and I have simply removed leaves and trimmed only the smallest of branches to overwinter. Both approaches are valid. The less-severe pruning means more pods sooner, as the plant doesn't have to regain much lost growth before putting out buds.
 
Also, instead of waiting until aphids are as out of control as you mention, see now if you can find a place to obtain ladybugs. Don't wait so long - at the very first sign of an aphid, get the ladybugs. They will prevent the swarm that you described. You don't want to get them too soon, but if you repot (wash off the old soil from the roots to help rid any soil-laid eggs) and remove leaves you can wait a month or so after bringing them in then get ladybugs even if you haven't seen aphids yet. You'll have to give them cotton balls soaked in a mix of agave nectar and water, plus cotton balls soaked in plain water until there are aphids for them to eat - and then afterwards, too.
 
We had a very chilly, wet "summer" here, so I'm in a similar boat as yours. I didn't even get ripe annuums until September, while I usually get them in July. I had no ripe Congo Trinidads while my plants were still outside and I guarantee the only reason why I have ripe ones now is because I brought them inside. We are supposed to get snow flurries tonight, so you have an idea how cold it is here now.  Every year I bring in plants to overwinter, and every year I get ladybugs and let them loose inside the house. This is a war you can win.

 

[LordHill]

Its a shame to chop off nice healthy growth, but in my experience peppers LOVE being pruned. I would prune back and overwinter the plants i wanted to keep. If your bent on getting pods, leave some of the better looking branches and give it a go

 

[Slizarus]

Not to overwinter it, but I had to strip a couple plants down to branches because of aphids and they're bushier than ever now.

I too say you can win. I've been surprised by it, but my AACT brew keeps aphid populations down and you can spray it much more often than any poison.

 

[Dave2000]

It is up to you whether to spend the money and time to provide artificial light over winter.  Sunlight would only be enough to keep it from going dormant if you have an area with enough light.
 
There is no need to rigorously prune to overwinter.  It steals away the progress made thus far.  The two legit reasons people do it is to save space and limit insect infestations.   However once the plants get to a certain size larger than they probably are yet, the branches would become too long to support themselves with pods on the ends. 
 
Therefore if the plant is going totally dormant you may want to cut off at least a few inches of the longer branches.  This is after a season of good growth and yours with a short season may not need that done for another year.