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When to Plant Peppers in Pearl River County, MS

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.

Pearl River County, Mississippi is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 3 and the first fall frost is November 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 266 days.

At an elevation of 243 feet, Pearl River County receives approximately 56.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 97ยฐF, so Peppers may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Peppers will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peppers root diseases.

Pearl River County, MS (Zone 8b) Long season
266 days
Last Spring Frost March 3
266 growing days
First Fall Frost November 24

Pearl River County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 16 Transplant: Mar 3 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jul 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (119 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 30 Transplant: Mar 17 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (117 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 22 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Aug 20

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
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Peppers needs ~1,706 GDD — county provides 6,051 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Pearl River County, MS

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 30 Dec 30 โ€“ Jan 13
Transplant Outdoors March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Mar 31
Direct Sow March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 31
Harvest May 19 May 19 โ€“ Jul 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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 8b

Growing Season

266 days

Growing Tips for Pearl River 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 Pearl River County, MS?

Pearl River County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 3. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pearl River County, MS?

Pearl River County, Mississippi is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 3 and first fall frost is November 24.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Pearl River County gardeners in Zone 8b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Pearl River County, MS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.