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When to Plant Peppers in Lincoln County, MO

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.

Lincoln County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 196 days.

At an elevation of 1,005 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 39.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Lincoln County, MO (Zone 6a) Moderate season
196 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
196 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 25 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Sep 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 17

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
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 308 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Peppers needs ~1,369 GDD — county provides 3,577 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Lincoln County, MO

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 31 Jan 31 โ€“ Feb 14
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 โ€“ May 9
Direct Sow April 18 Apr 18 โ€“ May 9
Harvest June 27 Jun 27 โ€“ Sep 5

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
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 6a

Growing Season

196 days

Growing Tips for Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, MO?

Lincoln County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, MO?

Lincoln County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 24.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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