When to plant Peppers in California

In spring, from Feb 1 – Apr 1 in Agoura Hills to May 25 – June 15 in Susanville.

In fall, from June 1 – Aug 1 in Adelanto to Aug 15 – Oct 1 in Yucaipa.

Dates are for setting out plants. USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.

Peppers planting dates by place in California
PlaceSpringFall
AdelantoApr 10 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
Agoura HillsFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Alameda—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Albany—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Alhambra—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Aliso Viejo—Aug 15 – Oct 1
American CanyonMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
Anaheim—Aug 15 – Oct 1
AndersonMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
Antioch—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Apple ValleyApr 10 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
Arcadia—Aug 15 – Oct 1
ArcataMar 1 – May 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Arroyo GrandeFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Artesia—Aug 15 – Oct 1
ArvinFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
AtascaderoApr 1 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
AtwaterMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
AuburnMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
AvenalMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Azusa—Aug 15 – Oct 1
BakersfieldFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Baldwin Park—Aug 15 – Oct 1
BanningFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
BarstowMar 1 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
BeaumontFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Bell——
Bell Gardens——
Bellflower——
BelmontFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
BeniciaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Berkeley—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Beverly Hills——
BlytheFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
BrawleyFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Brea—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Brentwood—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Buena Park——
Burbank—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Burlingame—Aug 15 – Oct 1
CalabasasFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Calexico—Aug 15 – Oct 1
California CityApr 1 – June 1June 1 – Aug 15
CalimesaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Camarillo—Aug 15 – Oct 1
CampbellFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Canyon LakeFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
CarlsbadFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Carpinteria——
Carson——
Cathedral City——
CeresFeb 1 – Apr 1June 15 – Sept 1
Cerritos—Aug 15 – Oct 1
ChicoMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
ChinoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Chino HillsFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
ChowchillaFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
Chula Vista—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Citrus Heights—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Claremont—Aug 15 – Oct 1
ClaytonApr 1 – June 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
ClearlakeMay 1 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
Clovis—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Coachella—Aug 15 – Oct 1
CoalingaMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Colton—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Commerce——
Compton——
Concord—Aug 15 – Oct 1
CorcoranMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
CoronaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Coronado——
Corte MaderaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Costa Mesa——
Covina—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Cudahy——
Culver City——
Cupertino—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Cypress——
Daly City—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Dana Point—Aug 15 – Oct 1
DanvilleApr 1 – June 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
DavisFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
DelanoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Desert Hot SpringsMar 15 – May 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Diamond Bar—Aug 15 – Oct 1
DinubaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
DixonFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
Downey——
DuarteMay 15 – June 10June 1 – Aug 1
DublinMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
East Palo AltoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
EastvaleFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
El Cajon—Aug 15 – Oct 1
El Centro—Aug 15 – Oct 1
El Cerrito—Aug 15 – Oct 1
El Monte—Aug 15 – Oct 1
El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles)Apr 1 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
El Segundo——
Elk GroveFeb 1 – Apr 1June 15 – Sept 1
Emeryville—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Encinitas—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Escondido—Aug 15 – Oct 1
EurekaMar 1 – May 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
ExeterMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
FairfieldFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
FarmersvilleFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Fillmore—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Folsom—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Fontana—Aug 15 – Oct 1
FortunaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Foster CityFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Fountain Valley——
Fremont—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Fresno—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Fullerton——
GaltFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
Garden Grove——
Gardena——
GilroyMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Glendale—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Glendora—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Goleta—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Grand Terrace—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Grass ValleyMay 1 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
GreenfieldMar 1 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
Grover BeachFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Half Moon BayFeb 15 – Apr 15Aug 15 – Oct 1
HanfordFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
Hawaiian Gardens——
Hawthorne——
Hayward—Aug 15 – Oct 1
HealdsburgMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
HemetFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
HerculesFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Hermosa Beach——
HesperiaMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
HighlandFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Hillsborough—Aug 15 – Oct 1
HollisterMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Huntington Beach——
Huntington Park——
Imperial—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Imperial Beach—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Indio—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Inglewood——
Irvine—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Jurupa Valley—Aug 15 – Oct 1
KermanMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
King CityMar 1 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
KingsburgMar 1 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
La Cañada Flintridge——
La Habra—Aug 15 – Oct 1
La Mesa—Aug 15 – Oct 1
La Mirada—Aug 15 – Oct 1
La Palma——
La Puente—Aug 15 – Oct 1
La Quinta—Aug 15 – Oct 1
La Verne—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Lafayette—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Laguna Beach—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Laguna Hills—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Laguna Niguel—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Laguna Woods—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Lake ElsinoreFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Lake Forest—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Lakewood——
LancasterApr 15 – June 1June 1 – July 20
LarkspurFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
LathropFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
Lawndale——
Lemon Grove—Aug 15 – Oct 1
LemooreMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
LincolnMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
LindsayMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
LivermoreMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Livingston—Aug 15 – Oct 1
LodiFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
Loma LindaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Lomita——
LompocFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Long Beach——
Los Alamitos——
Los Altos—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Los Angeles——
Los BanosFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Los GatosFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Lynwood——
MaderaFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
Malibu——
Manhattan Beach——
MantecaFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
MarinaFeb 15 – Apr 15Aug 15 – Oct 1
MartinezMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
MarysvilleFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Maywood——
McFarlandFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
MendotaFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
MenifeeFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Menlo ParkFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
MercedMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
Mill ValleyFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Millbrae—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Milpitas—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Mission Viejo—Aug 15 – Oct 1
ModestoFeb 1 – Apr 1June 15 – Sept 1
MonroviaMay 15 – June 10June 1 – Aug 1
Montclair—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Montebello—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Monterey—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Monterey Park—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Moorpark—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Moraga—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Moreno ValleyFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Morgan HillMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Morro BayFeb 1 – Apr 1—
Mountain View—Aug 15 – Oct 1
MurrietaFeb 1 – Apr 1—
NapaFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
National City——
Newark—Aug 15 – Oct 1
NewmanMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Newport Beach——
NorcoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Norwalk—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Novato—Aug 15 – Oct 1
OakdaleFeb 1 – Apr 1June 15 – Sept 1
Oakland—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Oakley—Aug 15 – Oct 1
OceansideFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Ontario—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Orange——
Orinda—Aug 15 – Oct 1
OrovilleFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Oxnard—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Pacific Grove—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Pacifica——
Palm Desert—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Palm Springs—Aug 15 – Oct 1
PalmdaleApr 1 – June 1June 1 – Aug 15
Palo AltoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Palos Verdes Estates——
Paramount——
ParlierFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Pasadena——
PattersonFeb 1 – Apr 1June 15 – Sept 1
PerrisFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
PetalumaMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
Pico Rivera—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Piedmont—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Pinole—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Pittsburg—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Placentia—Aug 15 – Oct 1
PlacervilleApr 15 – June 1June 1 – Aug 15
Pleasant Hill—Aug 15 – Oct 1
PleasantonMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Pomona—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Port Hueneme—Aug 15 – Oct 1
PortervilleFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Poway—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Rancho Cordova—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Rancho Cucamonga—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Rancho Mirage——
Rancho Palos Verdes——
Rancho Santa Margarita—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Red BluffMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
ReddingMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
RedlandsFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Redondo Beach——
Redwood CityFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
ReedleyFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Rialto—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Richmond—Aug 15 – Oct 1
RidgecrestApr 1 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
Rio Vista—Aug 15 – Oct 1
RiponFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
RiverbankFeb 1 – Apr 1June 15 – Sept 1
Riverside—Aug 15 – Oct 1
RocklinMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Rohnert ParkMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Rosemead—Aug 15 – Oct 1
RosevilleMar 1 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
Sacramento—Aug 15 – Oct 1
SalinasFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Anselmo—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San BernardinoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Bruno——
San Buenaventura (Ventura)—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San CarlosFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Clemente—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Diego——
San Dimas—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Fernando—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Francisco—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Gabriel—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San JacintoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Jose—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Juan Capistrano—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Leandro—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Luis ObispoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Marcos—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Marino——
San Mateo—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Pablo—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San Rafael—Aug 15 – Oct 1
San RamonApr 1 – June 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
SangerFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Santa Ana——
Santa Barbara——
Santa Clara—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Santa Clarita—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Santa CruzFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Santa Fe Springs—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Santa MariaFeb 15 – Apr 15Aug 15 – Oct 1
Santa Monica——
Santa Paula—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Santa RosaMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
Santee—Aug 15 – Oct 1
SaratogaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Scotts ValleyApr 10 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
Seal Beach——
Seaside—Aug 15 – Oct 1
SelmaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
ShafterMar 1 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
Shasta LakeFeb 15 – Apr 15Aug 15 – Oct 1
Sierra MadreMay 15 – June 10June 1 – Aug 1
Signal Hill——
Simi ValleyFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Solana Beach—Aug 15 – Oct 1
SoledadMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 20
SonomaMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
South El Monte—Aug 15 – Oct 1
South Gate——
South Lake TahoeNot listedJune 1 – July 1
South Pasadena——
South San Francisco—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Stanton——
StocktonFeb 15 – Apr 15Aug 15 – Oct 1
Suisun CityFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Sunnyvale—Aug 15 – Oct 1
SusanvilleMay 25 – June 15June 1 – July 1
TehachapiMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 20
TemeculaFeb 1 – Apr 1—
Temple City—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Thousand Oaks—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Torrance——
TracyMar 15 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
TruckeeNot listedJune 1 – 20
TulareFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Turlock—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Tustin—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Twentynine PalmsFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
UkiahApr 10 – June 1June 1 – Aug 15
Union City—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Upland—Aug 15 – Oct 1
VacavilleMar 1 – May 1June 15 – Sept 1
VallejoFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
VictorvilleApr 10 – June 1June 1 – Aug 1
VisaliaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
VistaFeb 1 – Apr 1—
Walnut—Aug 15 – Oct 1
Walnut Creek—Aug 15 – Oct 1
WascoFeb 1 – Apr 1June 15 – Sept 1
WatsonvilleFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
West Covina—Aug 15 – Oct 1
West Hollywood——
West SacramentoFeb 1 – Apr 1June 15 – Sept 1
Westminster——
Whittier—Aug 15 – Oct 1
WildomarFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
WindsorMar 15 – May 1June 1 – Aug 15
WoodlandFeb 15 – Apr 15June 15 – Sept 1
Yorba LindaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Yuba CityFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
YucaipaFeb 1 – Apr 1Aug 15 – Oct 1
Yucca ValleyApr 1 – June 1June 15 – Sept 1

Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means the place's frost date is outside the table. The full USDA table for peppers.