When to Plant Hot Peppers in Texas

Q: When should I plant Hot Peppers in Texas?

Planting dates for Hot Peppers in Texas vary by zone. Texas spans zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b.

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

Texas spans USDA hardiness zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

Find Your County

Click your county for exact Hot Peppers planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.

Hot Peppers Planting Calendar for Texas

▸ Zone 6b ~205 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 3 · First frost: October 25 · 205 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 23	Jan 23 – Feb 6
Transplant Outdoors	April 17	Apr 17 – May 1
Direct Sow	April 10	Apr 10 – May 1
Harvest	June 26	Jun 26 – Oct 2

▸ Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 21	Jan 21 – Feb 4
Transplant Outdoors	April 8	Apr 8 – Apr 22
Direct Sow	April 1	Apr 1 – Apr 22
Harvest	June 17	Jun 17 – Sep 23

▸ Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 14	Jan 14 – Jan 28
Transplant Outdoors	April 1	Apr 1 – Apr 15
Direct Sow	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 15
Harvest	June 10	Jun 10 – Sep 16

▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 4	Jan 4 – Jan 18
Transplant Outdoors	March 22	Mar 22 – Apr 5
Direct Sow	March 15	Mar 15 – Apr 5
Harvest	May 31	May 31 – Sep 6

▸ Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	December 24	Dec 24 – Jan 7
Transplant Outdoors	March 11	Mar 11 – Mar 25
Direct Sow	March 4	Mar 4 – Mar 25
Harvest	May 20	May 20 – Aug 26

▸ Zone 9a ~303 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 10 · First frost: December 10 · 303 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	December 30	Dec 30 – Jan 13
Transplant Outdoors	February 17	Feb 17 – Mar 3
Direct Sow	February 10	Feb 10 – Mar 3
Harvest	April 28	Apr 28 – Aug 4

▸ Zone 9b ~329 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 25 · First frost: December 20 · 329 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	December 14	Dec 14 – Dec 28
Transplant Outdoors	February 1	Feb 1 – Feb 15
Direct Sow	January 25	Jan 25 – Feb 15
Harvest	April 12	Apr 12 – Jul 19

Growing Tips for Texas

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.

Hot Peppers in Other States

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Hot Peppers in Texas?

Planting dates for Hot Peppers in Texas depend on your USDA zone. Texas spans zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Texas for planting?

Texas contains USDA hardiness zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

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