When to plant peppers
Peppers are frost-tender, so start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost; transplant 2–4 weeks after it. Plant when the soil is at least 65°F.
Peppers dates for Columbus, Ohio (example)
Example dates. Enter your ZIP above for your own.
| Start indoors | Feb 9–23 |
|---|---|
| Transplant outside | May 4–18 |
| Last planting for a harvest before frost | Jul 26 |
| Soil temperature | 65°F or warmer |
| Days to harvest | 60–90 |
| Spacing | 12–18 in apart |
Your pepper year
- Start indoors
- Transplant outside
Average last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 24.
Growing tips for peppers
- Pepper seed germinates slowly; a heat mat at 80–85°F cuts germination time roughly in half.
- Peppers sulk in cold soil, so they go out one to two weeks after tomatoes.
- Hot peppers usually need the longer end of the days-to-harvest range.
Work out indoor sowing for everything at once with the seed starting calculator.
When to plant peppers in major cities
Calculated from each city's NOAA 1991–2020 average frost dates.
| City | Zone | Transplant |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 7b | Apr 13–27 |
| Chicago, IL | 6b | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 10b | Feb 8–22 |
| Houston, TX | 9b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 10a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 7b | Apr 13–27 |
| Dallas, TX | 8b | Mar 16–30 |
| Atlanta, GA | 8a | Apr 7–21 |
| Seattle, WA | 9a | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Denver, CO | 6a | May 14–28 |
| Boston, MA | 7a | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 5a | May 7–21 |
| Kansas City, MO | 6b | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Nashville, TN | 7b | Apr 15–29 |
| Portland, OR | 9a | Mar 11–25 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 7b | Apr 14–28 |
| Columbus, OH | 6b | May 4–18 |
| Charlotte, NC | 8a | Apr 13–27 |
| Detroit, MI | 6b | May 5–19 |
| Raleigh, NC | 8a | Apr 11–25 |
Peppers planting FAQ
When should I plant peppers?
Peppers are frost-tender, so start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost; transplant 2–4 weeks after it. Plant when the soil is at least 65°F.
How many days until peppers are ready to harvest?
Most pepper varieties take about 60–90 days from transplanting. Check the seed packet: early varieties are at the low end.
Can peppers survive frost?
No. Peppers are damaged or killed by a 32°F frost, so wait until after your last frost and cover plants if a late frost is forecast.
How far apart should I plant peppers?
Space peppers 12–18 in apart.
What is the last date I can plant peppers?
Count the variety's days to maturity back from your first fall frost. Enter your ZIP code on this page and Seasonwise calculates the date for you.
Ask about growing peppers
Enter your ZIP above first and answers will use your local frost dates. Written by an AI model; double-check anything important.