🫑 When to Plant Pepper

When should I plant pepper?

Plant pepper outdoors 2 weeks after last frost. For a head start, start seeds indoors 8 weeks before your area's last frost date. Transplants can go out 1 week after last frost.

Is pepper frost sensitive?

Yes — Pepper is frost-sensitive and will be damaged or killed by temperatures at or below 32°F. Wait until all frost danger has passed and nighttime lows are consistently above 55°F.

What temperature does pepper need?

Pepper grows best between 65°F and 85°F. It can survive down to 55°F, but growth slows significantly below 65°F. Warm nights are especially important once fruiting begins.

How long does pepper take to grow?

Pepper typically takes 70–90 days from transplant (or direct sow) to first harvest.

Should I start pepper seeds indoors?

Yes — start pepper seeds indoors 8 weeks before your area's last expected frost date. This gives seedlings time to develop strong roots before outdoor conditions are ready.

Is it too cold to plant pepper?

It is too cold to plant Pepper outdoors when nighttime temperatures are falling below 55°F. Pepper is frost-sensitive, so a single freeze will kill it — wait until your area's last frost date has passed and nights are reliably above 55°F. Use CanIPlant to check your local 7-day forecast and get a real-time answer for your ZIP code.

Is it too hot to plant pepper?

Pepper starts to struggle when temperatures climb above 85°F. As a warm-season crop, Pepper enjoys heat but can experience blossom drop and reduced fruiting above 90°F. Consistent highs above that level may delay planting until temperatures moderate. CanIPlant checks your local forecast highs to flag this automatically.

Any tips for growing pepper?

Needs warm soil and nights.