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When to Plant Peppers in Divide County, ND

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.

Divide County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 994 feet, Divide County receives approximately 20.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 79ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Peppers to ensure they mature before fall.

Divide County, ND (Zone 3b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 20

Divide County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Oct 6
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Jun 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Oct 9
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Jun 17 🍅 Harvest: Aug 19 – Oct 21

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 447 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Peppers needs ~694 GDD — county provides 1,184 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Divide County, ND

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 27 Feb 27 โ€“ Mar 13
Transplant Outdoors June 5 Jun 5 โ€“ Jun 19
Direct Sow May 29 May 29 โ€“ Jun 19
Harvest August 7 Aug 7 โ€“ Oct 9

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors
April โ€”
May Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
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 3b

Growing Season

128 days

Growing Tips for Divide 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 Divide County, ND?

Divide County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Divide County, ND?

Divide County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 20.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Divide County gardeners in Zone 3b 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 Divide County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.