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When to Plant Peppers in Morton County, KS

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.

Morton County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 180 days.

At an elevation of 1,054 feet, Morton County receives approximately 23.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Morton County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
180 days
Last Spring Frost April 20
180 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Morton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

How Much Peppers to Grow

3-5 lbs
Average yield per plant
3
Plants per person
6 sq ft
Space per person

For a family of 4, plant approximately 12 peppers plants in about 24 sq ft. In Morton County's 180-day season, you'll have plenty of time for a full harvest. Plan your garden layout →

Monthly Watering Guide for Peppers

Peppers needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Peppers Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Morton County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Morton County, KS

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 9 Feb 9 โ€“ Feb 23
Transplant Outdoors May 4 May 4 โ€“ May 18
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ May 18
Harvest July 6 Jul 6 โ€“ Sep 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

180 days in Morton County

Growing Tips for Morton 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

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 Morton County, KS?

Morton County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 20. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Morton County, KS?

Morton County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 20 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Morton County gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Morton County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.