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When to Plant Peppers in Coffee County, AL

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.

Coffee County, Alabama is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 12 and the first fall frost is November 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 247 days.

At an elevation of 342 feet, Coffee County receives approximately 55.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 97ยฐF, so Peppers may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Clay soil retains moisture well for Peppers, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peppers root diseases.

Coffee County, AL (Zone 8a) Long season
247 days
Last Spring Frost March 12
247 growing days
First Fall Frost November 14

Coffee County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Coffee County, AL

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 8 Jan 8 โ€“ Jan 22
Transplant Outdoors March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 9
Direct Sow March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 9
Harvest May 28 May 28 โ€“ Aug 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 8a

Growing Season

247 days

Growing Tips for Coffee County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel
  • Kohlrabi

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ 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 35ยฐF, under 50% humidity.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peppers in Coffee County, AL?

Coffee County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 12. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Coffee County, AL?

Coffee County, Alabama is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 12 and first fall frost is November 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Coffee County gardeners in Zone 8a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Coffee County, AL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.