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When to Plant Peppers in Brewster 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.

Brewster County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 27 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 229 days.

At an elevation of 2,724 feet, Brewster County receives approximately 43.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 98ยฐF, so Peppers may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Peppers will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Brewster County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
229 days
Last Spring Frost March 27
229 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Brewster County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.9-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 9 Transplant: Mar 27 🍅 Harvest: May 29 – Aug 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (82 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 23 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (88 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 11 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 9

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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 499 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Peppers needs ~1,762 GDD — county provides 5,381 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Brewster County, TX

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 23 Jan 23 โ€“ Feb 6
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ Apr 24
Direct Sow April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 24
Harvest June 12 Jun 12 โ€“ Aug 21

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 โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
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 7b

Growing Season

229 days

Growing Tips for Brewster 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 Brewster County, TX?

Brewster County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 27. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Brewster County, TX?

Brewster County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 27 and first fall frost is November 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Brewster County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Brewster County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.