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When to Plant Peppers in Archer County, TX

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.

Archer County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 20 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 240 days.

At an elevation of 2,151 feet, Archer County receives approximately 59.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peppers root diseases.

Archer County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
240 days
Last Spring Frost March 20
240 growing days
First Fall Frost November 15

Archer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 8 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Aug 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 16 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Aug 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Sep 7

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.

Soil Compatibility in Archer County

How your county's soil matches Peppers's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“7.5) overlaps with Peppers's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Archer County is excellent for Peppers โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Peppers.

How to Plant Peppers

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Peppers

4
successive plantings in your 240-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 17 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 155 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Peppers

Peppers needs approximately 1.1 inches of water per week (4.8" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Peppers Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.8" 3.6" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.8" 6.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.8" 8.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.8" 10" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.8" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.8" 7.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.8" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.8" 3.9" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.8" 2.3" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Archer County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Peppers Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Peppers needs ~1,481 GDD — county provides 4,740 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Archer County, TX

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 16 Jan 16 โ€“ Jan 30
Transplant Outdoors April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 17
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 17
Harvest June 5 Jun 5 โ€“ Aug 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

240 days in Archer County

Growing Tips for Peppers in Archer County

Direct sow Peppers outdoors after March 20 in Archer County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Peppers in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

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 Archer County, TX?

Archer County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 20. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Archer County, TX?

Archer County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 20 and first fall frost is November 15.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Archer County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Archer County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.