Hello all,
So I know I'm being sentimental here, but I have to ask. I have 3 pepper plants, all datils. The plan was to try to "hibernate" one over the winter to regrow next spring, and turn 2 into bonchi.
I had cut back on visiting my plants, going over every 2-3 days, with the cooler weather and rain. A couple of days ago, I went over and 2 of my plants were looking great. The third, one I'd intended to become a bonchi, looked like it hadn't been watered in ages, even though it was exposed to recent rains and had moist soil. When I looked at the leaves, they were COVERED in aphids. There were also ants all over the plant. That's the night I learned that fire ants (which I know my friend's place has) are aphid farmers.
I harvested the last of the peppers, all but 1 of which were ripe, and did a big chop-job on the plant. I figured the chop job could kill the plant as easily as the ants/aphids, but at least I could cut off their food source and maybe hurt their numbers. This particular plant has been through hell - she got extra wilt-y 5ish times this summer, didn't set peppers until much later, but still produced a small crop.
I really hate to lose this plant, but I've also read the horror stories of people overwintering and dealing with aphids. I would rather lose one plant now than infest 3 with aphids (my 3 peppers are in 5 gal buckets, about 20-25 ft apart, and I haven't seen aphids on the others . . . yet) and lose them all over the winter. But with the big hack job, maybe it's easier to rinse/clean/spray down the plant. Anyway, what are your thoughts? Should I leave this plant out to face the first freeze, whenever it may come, or give it a chance as a bonchi?
So I know I'm being sentimental here, but I have to ask. I have 3 pepper plants, all datils. The plan was to try to "hibernate" one over the winter to regrow next spring, and turn 2 into bonchi.
I had cut back on visiting my plants, going over every 2-3 days, with the cooler weather and rain. A couple of days ago, I went over and 2 of my plants were looking great. The third, one I'd intended to become a bonchi, looked like it hadn't been watered in ages, even though it was exposed to recent rains and had moist soil. When I looked at the leaves, they were COVERED in aphids. There were also ants all over the plant. That's the night I learned that fire ants (which I know my friend's place has) are aphid farmers.
I harvested the last of the peppers, all but 1 of which were ripe, and did a big chop-job on the plant. I figured the chop job could kill the plant as easily as the ants/aphids, but at least I could cut off their food source and maybe hurt their numbers. This particular plant has been through hell - she got extra wilt-y 5ish times this summer, didn't set peppers until much later, but still produced a small crop.
I really hate to lose this plant, but I've also read the horror stories of people overwintering and dealing with aphids. I would rather lose one plant now than infest 3 with aphids (my 3 peppers are in 5 gal buckets, about 20-25 ft apart, and I haven't seen aphids on the others . . . yet) and lose them all over the winter. But with the big hack job, maybe it's easier to rinse/clean/spray down the plant. Anyway, what are your thoughts? Should I leave this plant out to face the first freeze, whenever it may come, or give it a chance as a bonchi?
