When to plant peppers
The rule
Days to maturity: 65–95 days [src]
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: frost-tender (derived from the planting timing above).
Peppers is frost-tender; it's grown as a spring/summer crop.
Peppers planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | April 5 | May 24 – June 7 | — |
| Zone 2b | April 13 | June 1 – June 15 | — |
| Zone 3b | April 8 | May 27 – June 10 | — |
| Zone 4a | April 2 | May 21 – June 4 | — |
| Zone 4b | March 29 | May 17 – May 31 | — |
| Zone 5a | March 31 | May 19 – June 2 | — |
| Zone 5b | March 23 | May 11 – May 25 | — |
| Zone 6a | March 19 | May 7 – May 21 | — |
| Zone 6b | March 12 | April 30 – May 14 | — |
| Zone 7a | March 4 | April 22 – May 6 | — |
| Zone 7b | February 23 | April 13 – April 27 | — |
| Zone 8a | February 12 | April 2 – April 16 | — |
| Zone 8b | February 2 | March 23 – April 6 | — |
| Zone 9a | January 19 | March 9 – March 23 | — |
| Zone 9b | December 22 | February 9 – February 23 | — |
| Zone 10a | December 4 | January 22 – February 5 | — |
| Zone 10b | December 9 | January 27 – February 10 | — |
What you'll need
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Seed-starting traysBurpee SuperSeed 36-cell trayReusable cells that pop seedlings out with the roots intact at transplant time.See it on Amazon- Seed-starting mixEspoma Organic Seed StarterA fine, sterile mix so small seeds can push through and seedlings don't rot.See it on Amazon
- Heat matVIVOSUN heat mat with thermostatWarm-season seeds sprout in days instead of weeks when the soil sits near 75–85°F.See it on Amazon
- Grow lightBarrina T5 LED grow lights, 4-packA windowsill is too dim in late winter; a light 2–3 in. above keeps seedlings short and sturdy.See it on Amazon
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Calendar computed 2026-09-27. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; University of Georgia Extension — Vegetable Planting Chart (Circular C963) (days to maturity); NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.