When to plant peppers
Peppers are a warm-season crop that is killed by frost and stalls in cold soil, so it goes out only once the frost risk is past and the soil has warmed. Type your town to see the dates for your weather station.
- Start seeds indoors
- Feb 7 to Mar 7
- Set plants outside
- Apr 18 to May 9
- First harvest
- Jun 22 to Jul 7
Counted from the average last frost, Apr 18, and first frost, Oct 27, at Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport, OH (NOAA 1991-2020).
The seed packet, in short
| Planting depth | 1/4 to 1/2 in |
|---|---|
| Spacing in the row | 12 to 24 in |
| Between rows | 18 to 36 in |
| Soil temperature | at least 60 °F, best 65 to 85 °F |
| Days to sprout | 10 to 20 days |
| Days to harvest | 65 to 80 days from transplant |
| Plants per person | 3 to 5 |
Pepper planting dates by zone
Each row uses the typical frost dates of a zone: the middle value among towns of 10,000 people or more in it. In zone 6b, for example, the typical last frost is Apr 20, so the first step for peppers, start seeds indoors, falls Feb 9 to Mar 9. Towns in one zone can differ by two weeks, so your own town's dates above are the better guide.
| Zone | Last frost | Start seeds indoors | Set plants outside | First harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | May 5 | Feb 24 to Mar 24 | May 5 to 26 | Jul 9 to 24 |
| 5a | Apr 30 | Feb 19 to Mar 19 | Apr 30 to May 21 | Jul 4 to 19 |
| 5b | Apr 28 | Feb 17 to Mar 17 | Apr 28 to May 19 | Jul 2 to 17 |
| 6a | Apr 24 | Feb 13 to Mar 13 | Apr 24 to May 15 | Jun 28 to Jul 13 |
| 6b | Apr 20 | Feb 9 to Mar 9 | Apr 20 to May 11 | Jun 24 to Jul 9 |
| 7a | Apr 14 | Feb 3 to Mar 3 | Apr 14 to May 5 | Jun 18 to Jul 3 |
| 7b | Apr 3 | Jan 23 to Feb 20 | Apr 3 to 24 | Jun 7 to 22 |
| 8a | Mar 27 | Jan 16 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 17 | May 31 to Jun 15 |
| 8b | Mar 16 | Jan 5 to Feb 2 | Mar 16 to Apr 6 | May 20 to Jun 4 |
| 9a | Mar 3 | Dec 23 to Jan 20 | Mar 3 to 24 | May 7 to 22 |
| 9b | Jan 31 | Nov 22 to Dec 20 | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | Apr 6 to 21 |
Good to know about peppers
- Peppers grow slowly in cool weather; nights below about 50 to 55 F cause yellow leaves and dropped flowers, so do not rush them out.
- Peppers need a longer indoor start than tomatoes, often 8 to 10 weeks.
- Wait for soil near 60 F before transplanting; black plastic helps warm it.
- Hot, dry winds and very warm nights can stop fruit set in midsummer.
How to plant peppers
- Plant in full sun, at least 6 hours a day, in fertile, well-drained soil; use a raised bed where soil stays heavy and wet.
- Water deeply, about 1 to 2 in. a week, wetting the soil at least 6 in. down and keeping moisture even.
- Mulch around plants to keep soil moisture steady and hold down weeds.
- Give a starter fertilizer solution at transplanting and a light side-dressing a few weeks later, once fruit starts to set.
Types that change the timing
- Sweet (bell) peppers have no heat and most start green, then turn red, yellow, orange or another color as they mature; hot (chili) peppers range from mild to very hot.
- Varieties come in early, mid-season and late groups; in short-season northern gardens pick early ones, since late fruit may never fully color.
Common mistakes
- Heavy nitrogen feeding grows lots of leaves but few flowers and fruit.
- Uneven watering, especially letting soil dry out while fruit is forming, leads to blossom-end rot.
When peppers are ready
- Bell types are ready green once full size, firm and glossy, about 3 to 4 inches long
- For red, yellow or orange fruit, leave them on the plant about 5 to 6 more weeks to color up
- Hot peppers can be picked at any color but are hottest when fully ripe
- Cut fruit from the plant instead of pulling to avoid breaking branches
Keeps 1 to 2 weeks at 50 to 55 F; long refrigerator storage causes chilling damage.
Timing and spacing: compiled from these university extension guides, each figure checked against at least two of them:
- Colorado State University Extension: Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech): Virginia's Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant (426-331)
- University of Georgia Extension: Home Garden Planting Chart (B577)
- Kansas State University Research and Extension: Vegetable Garden Planting Guide (MF315)
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Master Gardener Program: Seed Germination Temperature and Timing
- Oregon State University Extension Service: When to start seeds indoors in central Oregon
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Maine Vegetable Gardening: Keep Your Garden Growing, Plant from Spring to Fall
- Utah State University Extension: Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for the Wasatch Front
- Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rockland County: Vegetable Planting Guide
- University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Peppers
- Utah State University Extension: Peppers in the Garden
- yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu
- hgic.clemson.edu
Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. General timing based on published university extension guidance and your local frost dates. Varieties and weather differ; your local extension office has the final word.