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When to Plant Hot Peppers in Grant County, OR

Hot peppers range from mildly spicy jalapenos to scorching superhots. They require long, warm growing seasons and produce capsaicin that gives them their heat.

Grant County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 6 and the first fall frost is September 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 96 days.

At an elevation of 2,838 feet, Grant County receives approximately 22.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Hot Peppers to ensure they mature before fall.

Grant County, OR (Zone 5b) Very short season
96 days
Last Spring Frost June 6
96 growing days
First Fall Frost September 10

Grant County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Hot Peppers

Hot Peppers needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Hot Peppers Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Jun 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.9" 3.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Junโ€“Sep in Grant County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Hot Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Grant County, OR

Hot Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 11
Transplant Outdoors June 20 Jun 20 โ€“ Jul 4
Direct Sow June 13 Jun 13 โ€“ Jul 4
Harvest August 29 Aug 29 โ€“ Dec 5

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors
May โ€”
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November Harvest
December Harvest

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

70โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

96 days in Grant County

Growing Tips for Grant County

Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost as they germinate slowly. Use heat mats to maintain 80-85F soil temperature for germination. Stress plants slightly by reducing water to increase heat levels.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel
  • Kohlrabi

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Hot Peppers in Grant County, OR?

Grant County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of June 6. Plan your Hot Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grant County, OR?

Grant County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 6 and first fall frost is September 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grant County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Grant County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.