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- Start indoors
- Sow outdoors
- Plant out
- Plant
- Fall crop
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Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Start pepper seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost. Plant them outside 2–4 weeks after that date, once nights stay above about 55°F and the soil is at least 65°F. Peppers sulk in cold weather, so waiting a little longer usually gets you peppers sooner.
- Frost tolerance
- Very tender: no frost
- Soil temperature
- Sow at 65–95°F (best around 85°F)
- Days to harvest
- 70–80 days from transplant
The rule we use
- Start seeds indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last spring frost
- Plant out: 2–4 weeks after the last spring frost
Starting pepper seeds indoors
Peppers are slow to sprout. In a cool room they can take three weeks or more, and some seed never comes up. Keep the seed tray at about 80–85°F with a heat mat, and most seed sprouts in 7–14 days. Hot peppers are often even slower than sweet ones.
Once they're up, take the heat mat away and give seedlings strong light for 14–16 hours a day. A windowsill is rarely enough in late winter, and seedlings stretch toward the glass. Move them into larger pots when the first true leaves appear.
Planting peppers outside
Peppers come from warm climates. A frost kills them, and even nights in the 40s can stall growth for weeks and turn the leaves purple. That's why the planting window here starts 2 weeks after your last frost, not on the day itself.
Harden plants off for about a week before planting. Set them in full sun at the same depth they grew in the pot, about 18 inches apart. A dark mulch or black plastic warms the soil and helps in cooler areas.
Getting a good crop
Very hot weather can cause flowers to drop, as can cold nights, so the first flush of fruit often comes when nights are mild. Keep the soil evenly moist; uneven watering can cause blossom-end rot, the dark patch on the bottom of the fruit.
All peppers start green. Red, yellow and orange peppers are the same fruit left to ripen, which takes another 2–4 weeks. In short seasons, pick some green to keep the plant producing.
Seeds and supplies for peppers
- Pepper seeds at True Leaf Market sweet and hot.
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- Seedling heat mats keep seed trays warm for fast, even sprouting.
- LED grow lights stop seedlings stretching toward a window.
- Frost cloth to cover plants if a late cold night is forecast.
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Questions about planting peppers
When should I start pepper seeds indoors?
About 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost, so the plants are 8–10 weeks old when you plant them out. Enter your ZIP above for exact dates.
Why won't my pepper seeds germinate?
Usually the soil is too cool. Pepper seed sprouts slowly below 70°F. A heat mat that keeps the mix at about 80–85°F makes a big difference.
Can I plant peppers right after the last frost?
You can, but they'll mostly sit still. Peppers need warm soil and nights above about 55°F to grow. Waiting 2–4 weeks after the last frost date is safer and rarely costs you any harvest.
How cold is too cold for pepper plants?
Frost kills them. Nights below about 50°F slow them down and can make flowers drop. Cover plants or bring container peppers inside if a cold night is forecast.
Sources
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland (2026), University of Maryland Extension
- Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting; Vegetables for Summer Planting, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 13: Propagation, NC State Extension
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 16: Vegetable Gardening, NC State Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension
- Soil temperature conditions for vegetable seed germination, Oregon State University Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)