Chili still fruiting in winter???

Our chilies did not fruit or flower at all last winter. But this winter it does not stop fruiting at all. Not few fruit but abundantly. I don't even give them protection at all from the weather. It has to defend itself from the cold strong wind. What I had in mind is that if a few chili plant could survive until spring comes, we don't have to wait for new plant to start producing to enjoy chili harvest again. Maybe in spring they start fruiting again this almost year old chilies I thought. Wow, they surprise me this year producing through winter.Another good thing about this chili plants of ours is that they don't even use lot of space...some squash between broccoli plants.



Last autumn, I had freeze some chilies and preserve chilies in vinegar for our stock for winter. However, I have not yet use them. We still have to many chilies for our use and friends are happy with out chilies giveaway.
We are trying to dry the chilies but it is a bit of a challenge in this cold weather. I aiming that we don't need to buy any dry chili anymore. No more in our grocery list we hope starting from now.



Winter chili>
1)Ripening takes longer
2)Red color a bit pale not fiery