When to plant pepper (sweet and hot)
Pepper (sweet and hot) timing, counted from your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Needs warm soil; cold nights stall growth.
| Season | warm-season, tender to frost |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | 10 weeks before to 8 weeks before the last frost |
| Transplant | 2 weeks after to 4 weeks after the last frost |
| Fall transplant | 16 weeks before to 13 weeks before the first fall frost |
| Soil temperature to germinate | 60°F or warmer |
| Days to maturity | 60–90 days from transplant |
| Spacing | 18–24 in apart, rows 24–36 in apart |
| Seed depth | 0.25 in |
Example dates
| Place | Dates |
|---|---|
| Austin, TX (78701) | Start seeds indoors: Dec 30–Jan 13; Transplant: Mar 24–Apr 7; Fall transplant: Jul 28–Aug 18 |
| Atlanta, GA (30303) | Start seeds indoors: Jan 13–27; Transplant: Apr 7–21; Fall transplant: Jul 19–Aug 9 |
| St. Louis, MO (63101) | Start seeds indoors: Jan 21–Feb 4; Transplant: Apr 15–29; Fall transplant: Jul 15–Aug 5 |
| Chicago, IL (60614) | Start seeds indoors: Jan 30–Feb 13; Transplant: Apr 24–May 8 |
| Denver, CO (80202) | Start seeds indoors: Feb 19–Mar 5; Transplant: May 14–28 |
| Seattle, WA (98101) | Start seeds indoors: Jan 2–16; Transplant: Mar 27–Apr 10; Fall transplant: Jul 28–Aug 18 |
Every ZIP page has its own dates. Find your ZIP.
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Sources
- University of Missouri Extension: G6201: Vegetable Planting Calendar
- K-State Research and Extension: MF315: Vegetable Garden Planting Guide
- University of Maryland Extension: When to Plant Vegetables
- NC State Extension: Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs
- UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS): SP 103/VH021: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC: Planning a Garden
Summarized in our own words from public extension publications.
All vegetables · Your ZIP's planting calendar
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