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When to Plant Peppers in Camas County, ID

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.

Camas County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 153 days.

At an elevation of 5,406 feet, Camas County receives approximately 21.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Camas County, ID (Zone 5a) Moderate season
153 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
153 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3

Camas County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (6 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 27
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Jun 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 17 – Oct 26

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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 674 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Peppers needs ~1,144 GDD — county provides 2,333 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Camas County, ID

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 โ€“ May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 31
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 โ€“ Sep 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors
April โ€”
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
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 5a

Growing Season

153 days

Growing Tips for Camas 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 Camas County, ID?

Camas County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Camas County, ID?

Camas County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Camas County gardeners in Zone 5a 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 Camas County, ID. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.