When to plant Peppers

The planting dates depend on your average frost dates. Enter a ZIP code to get yours, or read the USDA table below. The dates are for setting out plants.

Earliest safe spring planting dates: peppers
Average last freezePlant
Jan 30Feb 1 – Apr 1
Feb 8Feb 15 – Apr 15
Feb 18Mar 1 – May 1
Feb 28Mar 15 – May 1
Mar 10Apr 1 – June 1
Mar 20Apr 10 – June 1
Mar 30Apr 15 – June 1
Apr 10May 1 – June 1
Apr 20May 10 – June 1
Apr 30May 15 – June 10
May 10May 20 – June 10
May 20May 25 – June 15
May 30June 1 – 15
June 10Not listed
Latest safe fall planting dates: peppers
Average first freezePlant by
Aug 30Not listed
Sept 10Not listed
Sept 20June 1 – 20
Sept 30June 1 – July 1
Oct 10June 1 – July 1
Oct 20June 1 – July 10
Oct 30June 1 – July 20
Nov 10June 1 – Aug 1
Nov 20June 1 – Aug 15
Nov 30June 15 – Sept 1
Dec 10Aug 15 – Oct 1
Dec 20Aug 15 – Oct 1

Source: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5. The bulletin scan.

Peppers by state