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When to Plant Peppers in Texas

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.

Texas spans USDA hardiness zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b (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 Texas

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
Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 24 Dec 24 – Jan 7
Transplant Outdoors March 11 Mar 11 – Mar 25
Direct Sow March 4 Mar 4 – Mar 25
Harvest May 13 May 13 – Jul 22
Zone 9a ~303 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 10 · First frost: December 10 · 303 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 30 Dec 30 – Jan 13
Transplant Outdoors February 17 Feb 17 – Mar 3
Direct Sow February 10 Feb 10 – Mar 3
Harvest April 21 Apr 21 – Jun 30
Zone 9b ~329 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 25 · First frost: December 20 · 329 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 14 Dec 14 – Dec 28
Transplant Outdoors February 1 Feb 1 – Feb 15
Direct Sow January 25 Jan 25 – Feb 15
Harvest April 5 Apr 5 – Jun 14

Growing Tips for Texas

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peppers in Texas?

Planting dates for Peppers in Texas depend on your USDA zone. Texas spans zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Texas for planting?

Texas contains USDA hardiness zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. 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.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Last updated: April 2026.