GrowDate Atlas

When to plant / Peppers

When to plant peppers

Plant peppers 2 to 4 weeks after the last spring frost. Peppers are a very tender crop in Colorado State University Extension's planting guide, and that is the guide's rule for the class. Across the 39 U.S. cities on this site the window opens between Feb 23 (Sacramento, CA) and May 27 (Concord, NH), because each city's own NOAA last-frost date is different.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Sacramento, CA Sacramento, California: start indoors Dec 29 – Jan 26 Sacramento, California: transplant Feb 23 – Mar 9 Sacramento, California: last fall planting Sep 24 Houston, TX Houston, Texas: start indoors Jan 7 – Feb 4 Houston, Texas: transplant Mar 4 – Mar 18 Houston, Texas: last fall planting Sep 29 Austin, TX Austin, Texas: start indoors Jan 8 – Feb 5 Austin, Texas: transplant Mar 5 – Mar 19 Austin, Texas: last fall planting Sep 27 San Antonio, TX San Antonio, Texas: start indoors Jan 18 – Feb 15 San Antonio, Texas: transplant Mar 15 – Mar 29 San Antonio, Texas: last fall planting Sep 22 Dallas–Fort Worth, TX Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas: start indoors Jan 25 – Feb 22 Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas: transplant Mar 22 – Apr 5 Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas: last fall planting Sep 16 Seattle, WA Seattle, Washington: start indoors Jan 25 – Feb 22 Seattle, Washington: transplant Mar 22 – Apr 5 Seattle, Washington: last fall planting Sep 12 Portland, OR Portland, Oregon: start indoors Feb 2 – Mar 2 Portland, Oregon: transplant Mar 30 – Apr 13 Portland, Oregon: last fall planting Sep 8 Atlanta, GA Atlanta, Georgia: start indoors Feb 6 – Mar 6 Atlanta, Georgia: transplant Apr 3 – Apr 17 Atlanta, Georgia: last fall planting Sep 12 Birmingham, AL Birmingham, Alabama: start indoors Feb 13 – Mar 13 Birmingham, Alabama: transplant Apr 10 – Apr 24 Birmingham, Alabama: last fall planting Sep 3 Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: start indoors Feb 13 – Mar 13 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: transplant Apr 10 – Apr 24 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: last fall planting Aug 31 Washington, DC Washington, D.C. (Reagan National): start indoors Feb 14 – Mar 14 Washington, D.C. (Reagan National): transplant Apr 11 – Apr 25 Washington, D.C. (Reagan National): last fall planting Sep 8 New York City New York City (Central Park), New York: start indoors Feb 18 – Mar 18 New York City (Central Park), New York: transplant Apr 15 – Apr 29 New York City (Central Park), New York: last fall planting Sep 9 Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: start indoors Feb 19 – Mar 19 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: transplant Apr 16 – Apr 30 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: last fall planting Sep 1 Louisville, KY Louisville, Kentucky: start indoors Feb 20 – Mar 20 Louisville, Kentucky: transplant Apr 17 – May 1 Louisville, Kentucky: last fall planting Aug 26 Raleigh, NC Raleigh, North Carolina: start indoors Feb 20 – Mar 20 Raleigh, North Carolina: transplant Apr 17 – May 1 Raleigh, North Carolina: last fall planting Aug 26 St. Louis, MO St. Louis, Missouri: start indoors Feb 20 – Mar 20 St. Louis, Missouri: transplant Apr 17 – May 1 St. Louis, Missouri: last fall planting Aug 25 Charlotte, NC Charlotte, North Carolina: start indoors Feb 21 – Mar 21 Charlotte, North Carolina: transplant Apr 18 – May 2 Charlotte, North Carolina: last fall planting Aug 25 Richmond, VA Richmond, Virginia: start indoors Feb 21 – Mar 21 Richmond, Virginia: transplant Apr 18 – May 2 Richmond, Virginia: last fall planting Aug 26 Boston, MA Boston, Massachusetts: start indoors Feb 23 – Mar 23 Boston, Massachusetts: transplant Apr 20 – May 4 Boston, Massachusetts: last fall planting Aug 30 Nashville, TN Nashville, Tennessee: start indoors Feb 23 – Mar 23 Nashville, Tennessee: transplant Apr 20 – May 4 Nashville, Tennessee: last fall planting Aug 24 Kansas City, MO Kansas City, Missouri: start indoors Mar 1 – Mar 29 Kansas City, Missouri: transplant Apr 26 – May 10 Kansas City, Missouri: last fall planting Aug 14 Columbus, OH Columbus, Ohio: start indoors Mar 5 – Apr 2 Columbus, Ohio: transplant Apr 30 – May 14 Columbus, Ohio: last fall planting Aug 18 Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis, Indiana: start indoors Mar 5 – Apr 2 Indianapolis, Indiana: transplant Apr 30 – May 14 Indianapolis, Indiana: last fall planting Aug 13 Des Moines, IA Des Moines, Iowa: start indoors Mar 6 – Apr 3 Des Moines, Iowa: transplant May 1 – May 15 Des Moines, Iowa: last fall planting Aug 8 Detroit, MI Detroit, Michigan: start indoors Mar 9 – Apr 6 Detroit, Michigan: transplant May 4 – May 18 Detroit, Michigan: last fall planting Aug 15 Omaha, NE Omaha, Nebraska: start indoors Mar 10 – Apr 7 Omaha, Nebraska: transplant May 5 – May 19 Omaha, Nebraska: last fall planting Aug 2 Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake City, Utah: start indoors Mar 10 – Apr 7 Salt Lake City, Utah: transplant May 5 – May 19 Salt Lake City, Utah: last fall planting Aug 15 Chicago, IL Chicago, Illinois: start indoors Mar 11 – Apr 8 Chicago, Illinois: transplant May 6 – May 20 Chicago, Illinois: last fall planting Aug 10 Cleveland, OH Cleveland, Ohio: start indoors Mar 11 – Apr 8 Cleveland, Ohio: transplant May 6 – May 20 Cleveland, Ohio: last fall planting Aug 22 Hartford, CT Hartford, Connecticut: start indoors Mar 13 – Apr 10 Hartford, Connecticut: transplant May 8 – May 22 Hartford, Connecticut: last fall planting Aug 4 Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: start indoors Mar 13 – Apr 10 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: transplant May 8 – May 22 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: last fall planting Aug 11 Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota: start indoors Mar 14 – Apr 11 Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota: transplant May 9 – May 23 Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota: last fall planting Aug 1 Albany, NY Albany, New York: start indoors Mar 17 – Apr 14 Albany, New York: transplant May 12 – May 26 Albany, New York: last fall planting Aug 1 Grand Rapids, MI Grand Rapids, Michigan: start indoors Mar 17 – Apr 14 Grand Rapids, Michigan: transplant May 12 – May 26 Grand Rapids, Michigan: last fall planting Aug 7 Portland, ME Portland, Maine: start indoors Mar 20 – Apr 17 Portland, Maine: transplant May 15 – May 29 Portland, Maine: last fall planting Aug 1 Madison, WI Madison, Wisconsin: start indoors Mar 21 – Apr 18 Madison, Wisconsin: transplant May 16 – May 30 Madison, Wisconsin: last fall planting Jul 27 Burlington, VT Burlington, Vermont: start indoors Mar 23 – Apr 20 Burlington, Vermont: transplant May 18 – Jun 1 Burlington, Vermont: last fall planting Jul 30 Denver, CO Denver, Colorado: start indoors Mar 25 – Apr 22 Denver, Colorado: transplant May 20 – Jun 3 Denver, Colorado: last fall planting Jul 28 Concord, NH Concord, New Hampshire: start indoors Apr 1 – Apr 29 Concord, New Hampshire: transplant May 27 – Jun 10 Concord, New Hampshire: last fall planting Jul 22
start seeds indoors transplant fall sowing 39 NOAA stations, earliest first; hover a bar for the dates

The planting rule for peppers, in plain words

Colorado State's Vegetable Planting Guide sorts vegetables into four frost classes and gives each class one timing rule relative to the average last spring frost. Peppers sit in the very tender class, whose rule reads: Typically 2+ weeks after the average last spring frost date. On this site that becomes 2 to 4 weeks from the station's 50% probability last 32°F date, the same arithmetic every city calendar uses.

Peppers are normally transplanted, not direct-sown. The guide gives a transplant age of 6 to 8 weeks, so the indoor sowing window is the outdoor window moved back by that much; when to start seeds indoors walks through the subtraction. Typical days to harvest from transplanting: 70.

Soil temperature for peppers

Minimum soil temperature for peppers in the cited sources: 60°F (minimum germination soil temperature for eggplant and pepper). A frost date cannot see the soil, so take a morning reading before trusting the window; the soil temperature guide covers every crop.

Peppers: planting dates for 39 U.S. cities

The rule above applied to each station's own NOAA normals, earliest first. City links open that station's full calendar.

City Last spring frost (32°F)Start seeds indoors TransplantLast fall planting
Sacramento, CA Feb 9Dec 29 – Jan 26 Feb 23 – Mar 9Sep 24
Houston, TX Feb 18Jan 7 – Feb 4 Mar 4 – Mar 18Sep 29
Austin, TX Feb 19Jan 8 – Feb 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19Sep 27
San Antonio, TX Mar 1Jan 18 – Feb 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29Sep 22
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX Mar 8Jan 25 – Feb 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5Sep 16
Seattle, WA Mar 8Jan 25 – Feb 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5Sep 12
Portland, OR Mar 16Feb 2 – Mar 2 Mar 30 – Apr 13Sep 8
Atlanta, GA Mar 20Feb 6 – Mar 6 Apr 3 – Apr 17Sep 12
Birmingham, AL Mar 27Feb 13 – Mar 13 Apr 10 – Apr 24Sep 3
Oklahoma City, OK Mar 27Feb 13 – Mar 13 Apr 10 – Apr 24Aug 31
Washington, DC Mar 28Feb 14 – Mar 14 Apr 11 – Apr 25Sep 8
New York City Apr 1Feb 18 – Mar 18 Apr 15 – Apr 29Sep 9
Philadelphia, PA Apr 2Feb 19 – Mar 19 Apr 16 – Apr 30Sep 1
Louisville, KY Apr 3Feb 20 – Mar 20 Apr 17 – May 1Aug 26
Raleigh, NC Apr 3Feb 20 – Mar 20 Apr 17 – May 1Aug 26
St. Louis, MO Apr 3Feb 20 – Mar 20 Apr 17 – May 1Aug 25
Charlotte, NC Apr 4Feb 21 – Mar 21 Apr 18 – May 2Aug 25
Richmond, VA Apr 4Feb 21 – Mar 21 Apr 18 – May 2Aug 26
Boston, MA Apr 6Feb 23 – Mar 23 Apr 20 – May 4Aug 30
Nashville, TN Apr 6Feb 23 – Mar 23 Apr 20 – May 4Aug 24
Kansas City, MO Apr 12Mar 1 – Mar 29 Apr 26 – May 10Aug 14
Columbus, OH Apr 16Mar 5 – Apr 2 Apr 30 – May 14Aug 18
Indianapolis, IN Apr 16Mar 5 – Apr 2 Apr 30 – May 14Aug 13
Des Moines, IA Apr 17Mar 6 – Apr 3 May 1 – May 15Aug 8
Detroit, MI Apr 20Mar 9 – Apr 6 May 4 – May 18Aug 15
Omaha, NE Apr 21Mar 10 – Apr 7 May 5 – May 19Aug 2
Salt Lake City, UT Apr 21Mar 10 – Apr 7 May 5 – May 19Aug 15
Chicago, IL Apr 22Mar 11 – Apr 8 May 6 – May 20Aug 10
Cleveland, OH Apr 22Mar 11 – Apr 8 May 6 – May 20Aug 22
Hartford, CT Apr 24Mar 13 – Apr 10 May 8 – May 22Aug 4
Pittsburgh, PA Apr 24Mar 13 – Apr 10 May 8 – May 22Aug 11
Minneapolis, MN Apr 25Mar 14 – Apr 11 May 9 – May 23Aug 1
Albany, NY Apr 28Mar 17 – Apr 14 May 12 – May 26Aug 1
Grand Rapids, MI Apr 28Mar 17 – Apr 14 May 12 – May 26Aug 7
Portland, ME May 1Mar 20 – Apr 17 May 15 – May 29Aug 1
Madison, WI May 2Mar 21 – Apr 18 May 16 – May 30Jul 27
Burlington, VT May 4Mar 23 – Apr 20 May 18 – Jun 1Jul 30
Denver, CO May 6Mar 25 – Apr 22 May 20 – Jun 3Jul 28
Concord, NH May 13Apr 1 – Apr 29 May 27 – Jun 10Jul 22

Fall column: 70 days to harvest counted back from the first fall 32°F date (Purdue HO-66-W method, methodology).

3 frost-free stations are left out. Not in the table? The planner takes any pair of frost dates.

Three cities, one rule

Questions about planting peppers

When should I plant peppers outside?

Peppers are a very tender crop, so Colorado State Extension's rule is 2 to 4 weeks after the last spring frost. In Sacramento, CA that is Feb 23 – Mar 9; in Concord, NH it is May 27 – Jun 10. Find your city in the table above, or enter your own frost date in the planner.

When should I start seeds for peppers indoors?

Subtract the transplant age Colorado State publishes, 6 to 8 weeks, from the outdoor window. In Sacramento, CA that gives Dec 29 – Jan 26; in Concord, NH, Apr 1 – Apr 29.

What soil temperature do peppers need?

The minimum germination soil temperature in Colorado State Extension's guide is 60°F. The frost window is the earliest the crop is safe from freezing; the soil reading tells you whether it will actually grow. Measure at 4 inches in the morning before planting.

How long do peppers take to harvest?

Colorado State's typical days to harvest for this row is 70 days, counted from transplanting. Compare that to your city's frost-free days in the table: Sacramento, CA has 297, Concord, NH has 140.

Can I plant peppers for a fall harvest?

39 of the 39 cities in the table show a separate fall planting date for peppers, found by counting the days to harvest back from the first fall frost. Where the row says no separate fall sowing, the spring window already covers the season.

Related planting dates

Sources for this page

SourceUsed forRead
NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–202050% probability last spring and first fall 32°F and 28°F dates for each station2026-10-16
Colorado State University Extension, CMG GardenNotes #720 Vegetable Planting Guidespring class rules, transplant age and days to harvest, via crops.json2026-10-16
Colorado State University Extension, Vegetable Planting Guide (germination soil temperature table)figures as quoted in this site's soil-temperature guide (/blog/soil-temperature-for-planting-vegetables/); the page could not be re-fetched on 2026-10-23 and the 2026-10-17 reading stands; the same minimum germination figures (tomato 50, pepper 60, potato 45, onion 35, cucumber and summer squash 60°F, read at 8 a.m. at 4 inches) appear in the soil temperature table of CMG GardenNotes #720, re-read 2026-10-232026-10-17

Every date in the table is arithmetic on the station's NOAA normal and the offset stated by the source; the quoted sentences are the only figures on this page that are not computed. Normals are 30-year averages and describe the station, not your yard. Rules checked 2026-10-23; see the methodology page.