Down here in Tampa FL its typical to have it be 80' during the day on New Years Day. Its like we get a couple cool weeks, then warm, then cool. I grow my peppers in containers outside on pallets next to the warehouse I work in. I'm seeting up an indoor grow shelter to be able to forklift the plants in and out according to the temperature.

I hope to be able to keep them jamming right thru and on into spring. Along with some other stuff. When would I have to bring the tomatoes in also? Since the lights would be the safest way to warm the shelter, how many hours per day is TOO MANY hours for a pepper to get light?

In my area, I bring my peppers indoors when the temps regularly dip below 50°F.

I have three peppers to be overwintered. I pruned them a week or two before I dug them up.
Then I pruned them again after they'd been re-potted. With the reduction in rootmass,
they simply can't support the entire foliage, so it must be pruned. I also prune so that
my plants are easier to move, easier to squeeze into windowsills, easier to prevent/
treat pests (should any appear), and for the 'bonchi' (bonsai chili) effect.

There is a fellow with a fully leafed Peach Habañero who is overwintering. Search his Thread.

Josh

I just saw a recent thread where someone used those big Zepherhills water jugs with the bottom cut off, sort of like an individual greenhouse for each plant. I might try that this year.

I believe tomatoes will not produce under 60 degrees. They can survive lower temps, but I believe that is when production turns off. Tomatoes are an Annual, not a perennial like peppers. I follow the 2-season rule for Florida and only grow tomatoes in the spring and fall. This year I grew from March 1st to July 1st, and Sept 1st to frost. By July 1st most of the tomato plants were burnt to a crisp. Although I have seen fields of shade cloth down in Ruskin, so I might try that and baby them through the summer next year.

what part of Tampa are you from?

There are also wild peppers that grow around here and overwinter on their own with nobody helping them. But I expect they're tougher than domesticated varieties. I have one growing in my yard. It'll lose some leaves and maybe even some branches in a hard freeze, but it's always come back with new growth once things warm up.

For peppers in pots, I would take them in if it's going to freeze, but I don't think you need to baby them more than that. If you let them get cold enough they'll go dormant, but they'll start growing again if they get warm again.