In a message dated 10/03/00 9:09:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Dustymllr@aol.com writes: << The Cincinnati growing season is coming to a quick end. The weather forecast for this weekend is below freezing temperatures plus snow and rain. (Today it was 82.) >> Debbie, I hope you're hearing from others and not just me. Several points: Yes, pulling and hanging produces several reds from the greens when you pulled them. They ripen slowly for a long time. If it's your only choice, then it's a good one. Yes, digging them up and potting them will give you plants that will produce through Christmas, and might survive (as listers have been pointing out for two weeks) until next season with a little care. Howsome-ever, Lord Byron will caution you about how easily the taproot gets damaged. He's right of course, so it's important to saturate the soil before trying this dig-out. Roots slip more easily from mud than soil. Since your daytime temps are 82, there's hope for many more warm days, THEREFORE, despite the weather forecast, I'd dig up a few of my favorites and pot them. THEN, I'd run a sprinkler on my plants all night long on the forecasted cold nights, leaving it on the next morning until the sun melts the ice off the plants. You'll likely be amazed how well the plants come through. You could cover the plants with "Cs" made of conduit and stretch plastic over them and provide a space heater, but at what point does cost get to be silly? BTW, I have done ALL of the above. I'm going broke on charcoal for the smoker, for heaven's sake. Someday soon, I'll start smoking the reds just as the forecast calls for frost and I'll smoke the reds under the plastic for the "still growings." Gareth the ChileKnight