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When to Plant Peppers in Meade County, KY

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.

Meade County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost is November 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 216 days.

At an elevation of 2,934 feet, Meade County receives approximately 45.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Meade County, KY (Zone 6b) Long season
216 days
Last Spring Frost April 1
216 growing days
First Fall Frost November 3

Meade County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.5

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 Meade County's 216-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€” 4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Meade County, KY

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 21 Jan 21 โ€“ Feb 4
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ Apr 29
Direct Sow April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 29
Harvest June 17 Jun 17 โ€“ Aug 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

216 days in Meade County

Growing Tips for Meade 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 Meade County, KY?

Meade County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 1. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Meade County, KY?

Meade County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 1 and first fall frost is November 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Meade 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 Meade County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.