When To Plant Pepper Seeds (by Hardiness Zone)

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Peppers do not like cold weather. As a result, most gardeners have to wait to plant pepper seeds until the winter weather is almost gone. It can be tricky to know when to plant pepper seeds, as it depends on your specific location.

We have grown peppers for over a decade. So, with the experience we’ve gathered over that time, I’ve created a pepper planting table that shows when to plant pepper seeds indoors for each hardiness zone. It also shows the average last frost date (32°F overnight temperature) for each climate.

Keep in mind:

• Frost dates are not guaranteed, they are averages
• Check your local weather each year
• Ideally, transplant peppers outdoors after nighttime temperatures are above 55°F (may not be possible in colder climates)

Hardiness Zone	Last Frost Date	When To Plant Pepper Seeds Indoors
3	June 3 – June 13	April 22 – May 2*
4	May 29 – June 10	April 17 – April 29*
5	May 16 – May 30	April 4 – April 18*
6	April 26 – May 8	March 15 – March 27
7	April 4 – April 15	Feb. 21 – March 4
8	March 3 – March 22	Jan. 20 – Feb. 8
9	Feb. 8 – Feb. 22	December 28 – January 11
10-13	No freeze	Anytime

*Cold climate growers may need to plant seeds earlier than these suggestions, keeping the plants indoors for longer to extend the growing season. Check your first fall frost date to make sure you give the plants enough time to produce their yields!

Check your specific location’s last frost date here.

When To Plant Pepper Seeds (Video):

Generally speaking, the colder your climate, the later you should plant pepper seeds indoors. In extremely cold climates, you may choose to plant slightly earlier (1-2 weeks) to extend the growing season on the front-end.

We have experimented with planting peppers earlier, and later, but have found it is best to keep them indoors for as short a time as is truly necessary before transplanting.

However, planting extra-early can sometimes be helpful, especially for superhot pepper varieties that require a longer season to ripen their fruits. Just be sure you have the indoor space and a good grow light for the young plants.

When To Transplant Peppers Outside

Generally speaking, pepper seeds should be planted indoors about 8 weeks before transplanting outdoors. This means you should sow seeds about 4-6 weeks before your local last frost date, with a few exceptions.

This is because most peppers should only be moved outdoors when the nighttime temperatures are consistently above 55°F. In other words, you can transplant pepper seedlings outdoors around 2-3 weeks after your last frost date.

After 6-8 weeks of growth indoors, pepper plants should be ready to move into their final location outside. This could be either a large container or into a raised bed or garden plot.

Learn more about transplanting peppers here.

Why Does Last Frost Date Matter?

Frost date is important because peppers are not cold-hardy. In other words, freezing temperatures will kill most pepper plants.

The “last frost date” for your location is an average value and should not be considered a guarantee. Some years, the last frost will be much later, and others will be earlier.

Peppers thrive in temperatures between 70°F – 85°F. Anything below 55°F will cause some stress to your plants. For this reason, I recommend waiting a couple weeks after your last frost date before transplanting your peppers outdoors permanently.

When Should I Plant Hot Peppers?

Many hot peppers require a longer growing period when compared to sweet varieties. These include habaneros, ghost peppers, scotch bonnets, and many others.

For best results, plant hot pepper seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your location’s last frost date. This will give the plants a head start while the outdoor temperatures rise.

Once the overnight temperatures rise to above 55°F, you can safely transition your hot pepper plants outdoors for the growing season.

How To Protect Peppers In Cold Weather

Sometimes, the weather just doesn’t cooperate. Here in Southern New England, we have seen full on frosts happen as late as June! When your pepper plants are already outside and you are expecting cold weather, here is what you can do.

In cold weather, protect pepper plants by covering with garden fabric or plastic bags. This will insulate the plant during the cold, protecting from damage. You can also place a thick layer of mulch around the plants to help insulate the roots.

I hope this article is useful for deciding when to plant your peppers. Timing is important to get the most out of your pepper plants, so be sure to experiment with what works best for your climate!

Read Next:

• How to grow bell peppers from seed
• How to grow ghost peppers from seed
• Pepper plant problems

Calvin

One of the original Pepper Geeks! When Calvin isn’t gardening or learning more about peppers and botany, he might be traveling new places or playing some music.