When Should You Start Planting Peppers? A Gardener’s Guide

Peppers—whether sweet bell varieties or fiery hot chilies—are a garden favorite for their flavor, color, and versatility. But timing is everything when it comes to planting peppers. If you start too early, you risk weak, leggy plants. Too late, and you may not get a full harvest before the growing season ends.

So when should you start planting peppers? The answer depends on your climate, your growing method, and the pepper variety you're planting.

1. Understanding Pepper Growing Basics

Peppers are warm-season crops that thrive in hot weather and dislike the cold. They need:

• Consistently warm temperatures (above 70°F / 21°C)

• Long growing seasons (some take 60–90+ days to mature)

• Full sun and well-drained soil

Because of their long growth period and sensitivity to cold, most gardeners start peppers indoors before transplanting them outside.

2. Start Indoors: 8–10 Weeks Before the Last Frost

For most climates, the best time to start pepper seeds indoors is:

• 8 to 10 weeks before your last expected frost date.

For example, if your last frost date is mid-April, you’ll want to start your pepper seeds indoors by early to mid-February.

Use a seed starting mix, keep soil temperatures around 75–85°F (24–29°C) for germination, and provide plenty of light—grow lights work best if sunlight is limited.

3. Transplant Outdoors: 2–3 Weeks After the Last Frost

Wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 55°F (13°C) and soil has warmed before planting peppers outside. This is usually 2–3 weeks after your last frost date. Transplanting too early can shock or stunt your plants.

Harden off your seedlings first by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over a week before planting them in the ground or containers.

4. Direct Sowing? Rarely for Peppers

Unlike fast-growing crops like beans or radishes, peppers are rarely direct-sown in the garden. The seeds need warm soil to germinate, and starting outdoors often leads to delayed or poor harvests—especially in shorter growing seasons.

5. In Warmer Climates

If you're gardening where frost is rare and the season is long, you may be able to sow seeds directly outdoors or transplant earlier. However, even in warm regions, starting seeds indoors can give you a jumpstart on the season.

Always check your local frost dates for more precise timing.

Final Tips

• Use a heat mat for faster seed germination.

• Don’t overwater seedlings; peppers hate soggy roots.

• Fertilize regularly once plants are established.

• Stake or cage taller pepper varieties for support.

Start peppers indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost, and transplant outdoors 2–3 weeks after it’s safely behind you. With the right timing and care, you'll enjoy a summer filled with colorful, flavorful peppers—straight from your garden.