I wasn’t expecting that

SC a question for you please, what do you do with your old chilli plants ?, I stripped the final fruit off mine about 11/2 weeks ago, I then pulled up the plants and broke them down and put in the compost bin. I was surprised how woody the branches were when I broke them down. The root balls on some of 5nem were still quiet strong so I was wondering if perhaps I should have wrapped them up in fleece and left them in the raised bed, would they grow back next year ?