US Grow Zones

When to plant pepper by zone

Last updated · Sources: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals frost dates; timing rules described in our methodology

Capsicum annuum is a warm-season crop that is tender to frost. Rule of thumb: start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks after to 4 weeks after the last frost.

SeasonWarmtender to frost
Days to maturity60–90from transplant
Min. soil temp65°F18.3°C, at planting
Spacing18–24 inin the row

Pepper planting dates by zone

Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Feb 1 – Apr 15; Jul 15 – Aug 31.

Pepper planting windows by hardiness zonePepper planting windows by USDA zone. zone 1a: indoor Mar 20–Apr 3, transplant Jun 12–Jun 26; zone 1b: indoor Mar 20–Apr 3, transplant Jun 12–Jun 26; zone 2a: indoor Mar 12–Mar 26, transplant Jun 4–Jun 18; zone 2b: indoor Mar 11–Mar 25, transplant Jun 3–Jun 17; zone 3a: indoor Mar 26–Apr 9, transplant Jun 18–Jul 2; zone 3b: indoor Mar 15–Mar 29, transplant Jun 7–Jun 21; zone 4a: indoor Mar 3–Mar 17, transplant May 26–Jun 9; zone 4b: indoor Feb 24–Mar 10, transplant May 19–Jun 2; zone 5a: indoor Feb 23–Mar 9, transplant May 18–Jun 1; zone 5b: indoor Feb 23–Mar 9, transplant May 18–Jun 1; zone 6a: indoor Feb 23–Mar 9, transplant May 18–Jun 1; zone 6b: indoor Feb 15–Mar 1, transplant May 10–May 24; zone 7a: indoor Feb 11–Feb 25, transplant May 6–May 20; zone 7b: indoor Jan 30–Feb 13, transplant Apr 24–May 8; zone 8a: indoor Jan 21–Feb 4, transplant Apr 15–Apr 29; zone 8b: indoor Jan 11–Jan 25, transplant Apr 5–Apr 19; zone 9a: indoor Dec 31–Jan 14, transplant Mar 25–Apr 8; zone 9b: indoor Dec 4–Dec 18, transplant Feb 26–Mar 12; zone 10a: indoor Nov 17–Dec 1, transplant Feb 9–Feb 23; zone 10b: indoor Nov 18–Dec 2, transplant Feb 10–Feb 24; zone 11a: ff Feb 1–Apr 15, ff Jul 15–Aug 31; zone 11b: ff Feb 1–Apr 15, ff Jul 15–Aug 31; zone 12a: ff Feb 1–Apr 15, ff Jul 15–Aug 31; zone 12b: ff Feb 1–Apr 15, ff Jul 15–Aug 31; zone 13a: ff Feb 1–Apr 15, ff Jul 15–Aug 31; zone 13b: ff Feb 1–Apr 15, ff Jul 15–Aug 31JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1a*1b*2a2b*3a*3b*4a4b5a5b6a6b7a7b8a8b9a9b10a10b11a11b*12a*12b13a*13b*Start indoorsPlant outDirect sowFall cropFrost-free climate window · * estimated zone
Planting windows by zone, drawn from the table below. Zones marked * have no major city on this site and use NOAA station estimates.
ZoneMedian last frostStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop
1a*May 29Mar 20 – Apr 3Jun 12 – Jun 26——
1b*May 29Mar 20 – Apr 3Jun 12 – Jun 26——
2aMay 21Mar 12 – Mar 26Jun 4 – Jun 18——
2b*May 20Mar 11 – Mar 25Jun 3 – Jun 17——
3a*Jun 4Mar 26 – Apr 9Jun 18 – Jul 2——
3b*May 24Mar 15 – Mar 29Jun 7 – Jun 21——
4aMay 12Mar 3 – Mar 17May 26 – Jun 9——
4bMay 5Feb 24 – Mar 10May 19 – Jun 2——
5aMay 4Feb 23 – Mar 9May 18 – Jun 1——
5bMay 4Feb 23 – Mar 9May 18 – Jun 1——
6aMay 4Feb 23 – Mar 9May 18 – Jun 1——
6bApr 26Feb 15 – Mar 1May 10 – May 24——
7aApr 22Feb 11 – Feb 25May 6 – May 20——
7bApr 10Jan 30 – Feb 13Apr 24 – May 8——
8aApr 1Jan 21 – Feb 4Apr 15 – Apr 29——
8bMar 22Jan 11 – Jan 25Apr 5 – Apr 19——
9aMar 11Dec 31 – Jan 14Mar 25 – Apr 8——
9bFeb 12Dec 4 – Dec 18Feb 26 – Mar 12——
10aJan 26Nov 17 – Dec 1Feb 9 – Feb 23——
10bJan 27Nov 18 – Dec 2Feb 10 – Feb 24——
11aRareFeb 1 – Apr 15; Jul 15 – Aug 31
11b*RareFeb 1 – Apr 15; Jul 15 – Aug 31
12a*RareFeb 1 – Apr 15; Jul 15 – Aug 31
12bRareFeb 1 – Apr 15; Jul 15 – Aug 31
13a*RareFeb 1 – Apr 15; Jul 15 – Aug 31
13b*RareFeb 1 – Apr 15; Jul 15 – Aug 31

Growing tips

Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.

Exact dates for your city

Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.

Other crops: Tomato, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets

Pepper planting questions

When should I start pepper seeds indoors?

About 8–10 weeks before your last spring frost. Using the median frost dates of cities on this site: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Feb 23 – Mar 9; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Feb 15 – Mar 1; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Jan 21 – Feb 4.

When can I plant pepper outside?

Set out transplants from 2 weeks after to 4 weeks after the last frost, once the soil reaches about 65°F (18.3°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): May 18 – Jun 1; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): May 10 – May 24; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Apr 15 – Apr 29.

Is my growing season long enough for pepper?

Pepper needs 60–90 days from transplant, and must finish before fall frost. Counting from planting 2 weeks after the last frost plus two weeks of harvest, slower varieties need about 118 days between the 30% frost dates. That is longer than the season in 3 of the 460 cities on this site with frost dates — for example Bend, OR, Flagstaff, AZ, Fairbanks, AK — where early varieties are the safer choice.

What soil temperature does pepper need?

At least 65°F (18.3°C) at planting depth. Cold soil slows root growth more than a short delay in planting does, so in a cold spring it pays to wait a week past the usual date. As a tender crop, pepper cannot take frost.

How far apart should I plant pepper?

Recommended in-row spacing: 18–24 in. Peppers germinate slowly; a heat mat (75–85°F) speeds them up.

When do you plant pepper where frost is rare?

In frost-free climates, plant pepper Feb 1 – Apr 15 and Jul 15 – Aug 31, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.