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When to Plant Peppers in Nemaha 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.

Nemaha County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 170 days.

At an elevation of 665 feet, Nemaha County receives approximately 21.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Nemaha County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
170 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
170 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Nemaha County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.4

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 Nemaha County's 170-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€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Nemaha County, KS

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 โ€“ Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 โ€“ May 21
Direct Sow April 30 Apr 30 โ€“ May 21
Harvest July 9 Jul 9 โ€“ Sep 17

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 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

170 days in Nemaha County

Growing Tips for Nemaha 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 Nemaha County, KS?

Nemaha County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Nemaha County, KS?

Nemaha County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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