I have had bell pepper plants live for 3 years here in S.E. How Long Does a Pepper Plant Live and How Big Does It Get?. The leaves fall off during winter and they get covered in snow. I bought a green bell pepper plant in June and it grew in pot and produced 5-6 small green-red bell peppers till now and have couple of them growing on the plant. Hello, The same general rules apply to the other species; they need warmth and plenty of sunlight in order to keep growing. i have had some orange habaneros since 2011, in phoenix arizona, i have to protect them from the sun during the crazy summer months, and the few weeks of cold during winter. If size is a concern, research the growth habits of your varietal choices before growing any Capsicum. I had success in transplanting the bush indoors through the winters. So how long do pepper plants live? Just wanted to add, I have a jalapeno plant that I started from seed in spring 2008…I live in East Tenn and we certainly get winter here. As of today we have around 200+ plants making peppers. I bring them indoors when typhoons come rolling through out here but all in all this is one hearty plant. Since I got much better production from the plants in years two and three. I live in Southern California and I like many of the replies have had several long growing seasons. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. It’s important to know the species, as some are longer-lived than others. In their native tropical environments, the plants can live multiple years. they produce really well when the temperature is within flowering range. Of this group, there are five cultivated species from which the majority of pepper varieties grown in home gardens derive. Of the five cultivated varieties of pepper, Capsicum annum is the one most often found in our homes and gardens, and one of only two species -- the other is Capsicum frutescens, of which the Tabasco pepper is a member -- having any commercial importance in the United States. The Length of Time From Planting to Harvesting Ghost Peppers. All pepper plants can be grown as annuals, but a few species can be perennial, provided they are in very warm, tropical climates. I grew a bell peper plant from seed in april and have since brought it inside and is continuing the provide 2 peppers per plant. The climate here seems to be perfect for hot peppers. Subscribe to Homegrown Peppers by Email & Never Miss a Post! I’ve grown habaneros almost perennially here in South Florida, but I’m afraid that some of our cold snaps have done them in. That is an important distinction, since most peppers are only native in a relatively narrow band encompassing the southern United States to northern Central America and falling into the United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Chili size: When fully ripe, peppers are usually between 2.5 and 3.5 inches long and 1 to 1.2 inches wide. However, some of the smaller plants -- especially those grown as ornamentals or potted plants -- may be as small as 1 foot tall and less than 2 feet wide, while larger varieties may grow to a height of 4 feet with similar spread. Continue the good work Gail! It’s nice to hear when a plant has a nice long (and productive) life. Thank you for the insight! United States Department of Agriculture: Plant Hardiness Zone Map, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Capsicum annum, Vegetable Garden Companion for Planting Bell Peppers. they are not as large as the year before. The Capsicum chinense peppers can live several years, providing they are in a warm climate. . Ghost chili plants can grow up to 4 feet (1.22 meters) high. Mike from UK says: November 28, 2011 at 5:05 pm. I would like to know how it works. Don’t pull them out, since you are very obviously doing something right! Just remember that you will need to give it lots of supplemental light and keep it warm (where it stays at least in the mid 70’s during the day).