Bell Peppers are perennial and will last several years. They are tropical plants and won't survive a harsh winter. But you can carefully dig them up and bring them into a South Facing spot (Northern Hemisphere) or a Northern Facing spot (Southern Hemisphere). You can provide some artificial light too. Here is a really good blow by blow account of what to do http://www.whyy.org/91FM/ybyg/winteri...
In commercial productions (in Florida, USA) it was shown that growth decreased in December. Artificial light helped but it was not cost effective (1). They recommended pulling up and re-planting
Are you growing many?
As for cutting back. I found nothing to suggest you cut back before the cold. The important message is that you dont let them get cold (how cold does it get for you?).
Again, detailed here http://www.whyy.org/91FM/ybyg/winteri... The guy writing that, Mike McGrath has a very popular radio show in the US and it a big expert. I suspect if cutting was needed he would have mentioned that. (I just emailed him to ask)
In general there are very mixed messages in the scientific literature on cutting back peppers. It has been reported to both increase as well as decrease yield. These were studies done in Greenhouses
For example
"Results indicated that 4 plant/square meter pruned to four stems increased marketable and extra large fruit yield in a short harvest period of a summer greenhouse sweet pepper crop in Northcentral Florida" http://www.hos.ufl.edu/protectedag/pd...
" production of extra-large fruit was higher (38%) in non-pruned than in pruned plants. "
http://horttech.ashspublications.org/...
Both studies from Florida and commercial settings.
Let us know more about the temperature you will experience, how many plants etc. That will help
1) http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Departme...
This is a great video series of Dr Elaine Ingham, she talks about the life in the soil and how it works. From my experience it's very easy to understand and to use which means lots of time and money saved, Here's the link to sign up: http://soilfoodwebcourse.com/reg/?p=D... Don't worry it's free!
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