When to Plant Peppers in Ontario

Q: When should I plant Peppers in Ontario?

Planting dates for Peppers in Ontario vary by zone. Ontario spans zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a.

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.

Ontario spans USDA hardiness zones 4a, 4b, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

Find Your County

Click your county for exact Peppers planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Peppers Planting Calendar for Ontario

▸ Zone 4a ~145 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: May 6 · First frost: September 28 · 145 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 18	Feb 18 – Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors	May 27	May 27 – Jun 10
Direct Sow	May 20	May 20 – Jun 10
Harvest	July 29	Jul 29 – Oct 7

▸ Zone 4b ~155 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: May 1 · First frost: October 3 · 155 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 13	Feb 13 – Feb 27
Transplant Outdoors	May 22	May 22 – Jun 5
Direct Sow	May 15	May 15 – Jun 5
Harvest	July 24	Jul 24 – Oct 2

▸ Zone 5b ~178 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 18 · First frost: October 13 · 178 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 7	Feb 7 – Feb 21
Transplant Outdoors	May 2	May 2 – May 16
Direct Sow	April 25	Apr 25 – May 16
Harvest	July 4	Jul 4 – Sep 12

▸ Zone 6a ~193 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 10 · First frost: October 20 · 193 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 30	Jan 30 – Feb 13
Transplant Outdoors	April 24	Apr 24 – May 8
Direct Sow	April 17	Apr 17 – May 8
Harvest	June 26	Jun 26 – Sep 4

▸ Zone 6b ~205 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 3 · First frost: October 25 · 205 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 23	Jan 23 – Feb 6
Transplant Outdoors	April 17	Apr 17 – May 1
Direct Sow	April 10	Apr 10 – May 1
Harvest	June 19	Jun 19 – Aug 28

▸ Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 21	Jan 21 – Feb 4
Transplant Outdoors	April 8	Apr 8 – Apr 22
Direct Sow	April 1	Apr 1 – Apr 22
Harvest	June 10	Jun 10 – Aug 19

▸ Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 14	Jan 14 – Jan 28
Transplant Outdoors	April 1	Apr 1 – Apr 15
Direct Sow	March 25	Mar 25 – Apr 15
Harvest	June 3	Jun 3 – Aug 12

▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 4	Jan 4 – Jan 18
Transplant Outdoors	March 22	Mar 22 – Apr 5
Direct Sow	March 15	Mar 15 – Apr 5
Harvest	May 24	May 24 – Aug 2

Growing Tips for Ontario

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.

Peppers in Other States

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peppers in Ontario?

Planting dates for Peppers in Ontario depend on your USDA zone. Ontario spans zones 4a, 4b, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Ontario for planting?

Ontario contains USDA hardiness zones 4a, 4b, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

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