Peppers Planting Guide

April

peppers this April — what to know

Month-by-month peppers fundamentals. Your frost dates change the timing, so pick your county for a tailored plan.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 60–90

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 15″

How to water peppers
About an inch of water a week keeps peppers happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put peppers
South-facing beds are ideal for peppers. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant peppers. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Find your zone's peppers schedule →

Sweet peppers are warm-season crops producing fruits in a rainbow of colors. They turn from green to red, yellow, or orange as they ripen, increasing in sweetness.

Capsicum annuum · Vegetable · Solanaceae family · 60–90 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Peppers Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Peppers?

Zone Compatibility for Peppers Zones 3a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Feb 27	May 29	Jun 5	Aug 7 – Oct 9
Zone 3b	Feb 22	May 24	May 31	Aug 2 – Oct 4
Zone 4a	Feb 18	May 20	May 27	Jul 29 – Oct 7
Zone 4b	Feb 13	May 15	May 22	Jul 24 – Oct 2
Zone 5a	Feb 14	May 2	May 9	Jul 11 – Sep 19
Zone 5b	Feb 7	Apr 25	May 2	Jul 4 – Sep 12
Zone 6a	Jan 30	Apr 17	Apr 24	Jun 26 – Sep 4
Zone 6b	Jan 23	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jun 19 – Aug 28
Zone 7a	Jan 21	Apr 1	Apr 8	Jun 10 – Aug 19
Zone 7b	Jan 14	Mar 25	Apr 1	Jun 3 – Aug 12
Zone 8a	Jan 4	Mar 15	Mar 22	May 24 – Aug 2
Zone 8b	Dec 24	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 13 – Jul 22
Zone 9a	Dec 30	Feb 10	Feb 17	Apr 21 – Jun 30
Zone 9b	Dec 14	Jan 25	Feb 1	Apr 5 – Jun 14
Zone 10a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 12 – May 21
Zone 10b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 12 – May 21
Zone 11a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 12 – May 21
Zone 11b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 12 – May 21

How to Plant Peppers

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.1"/week

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Solanaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Solanaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Peppers

Peppers matures in just 60–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Peppers

✅ Good Companions

Basil Tomatoes Carrots Onion

❌ Keep Away From

Fennel Kohlrabi

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Peppers

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant when nighttime temperatures stay above 55F. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which promote leaves over fruit.

💧 Watering: Peppers needs approximately 1.1 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.

Saving Peppers Seeds

🌾 Save Your Own Peppers Seeds

Life Cycle Annual

Pollination Self-Pollinating

How to Collect Remove seeds from fully ripe (red/orange) fruit.

Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35°F, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 300 ft for purity. Hot and sweet peppers can cross-pollinate.

Get our full Seed Saving Guide for 200 plants →

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Peppers by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Peppers?

Peppers (Capsicum annuum) takes 60 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Peppers grow in?

Peppers can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Peppers need?

Growing Peppers requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.