Last December, after a frost warning, I severely cut-back my peppers and eggplant. These plants were cut back and covered with inverted pots/buckets the nights of frost. If loppers had to be used, the plant was cut to 8-12 inches. If hand pruners were used, the plant was cut to 3-8 inches.
Most came back nicely. Bright green, new leaves are sprouting at every joint. Plus new growth from the ground of what appeared to be frosted-to-death plants. About 10% of the plants were lost, most of them were younger plants. The more mature plants, even though intensely cut back, managed the best.
Certainly more efficient and cheaper than starting from seed again. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of guts to seriously prune fully fruiting plants.
This did NOT work for basil.
The prunings were converted into cuttings for new plants. After sitting in a glass of water for about a week, they were planted in the ground. About a third took hold and are new, healthy, happy plants. Free plants! Hurray. Let's share them.
