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When to Plant Peppers in Crittenden County, AR

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.

Crittenden County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 229 days.

At an elevation of 808 feet, Crittenden County receives approximately 45.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Crittenden County, AR (Zone 7b) Long season
229 days
Last Spring Frost March 21
229 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Crittenden County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (84 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 10 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Aug 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 17 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Sep 3

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 423 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Peppers needs ~1,481 GDD — county provides 4,522 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Crittenden County, AR

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 17 Jan 17 โ€“ Jan 31
Transplant Outdoors April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 18
Direct Sow March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 18
Harvest June 6 Jun 6 โ€“ Aug 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February โ€”
March Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
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 7b

Growing Season

229 days

Growing Tips for Crittenden 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 Crittenden County, AR?

Crittenden County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 21. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Crittenden County, AR?

Crittenden County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 21 and first fall frost is November 5.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Crittenden County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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