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When to Plant Peppers in Duchesne County, UT

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.

Duchesne County, Utah is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 147 days.

At an elevation of 5,302 feet, Duchesne County receives approximately 13 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Peppers to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Peppers successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Duchesne County, UT (Zone 4b) Short season
147 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
147 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4

Duchesne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Feb 13 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Oct 2
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Oct 11
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Jun 25 🍅 Harvest: Aug 27 – Nov 5

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 Duchesne County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“8.2) is more alkaline than Peppers prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Peppers.

How to Plant Peppers

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

Succession Planting Peppers

2
successive plantings in your 147-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 06 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,144 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 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€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.8" 1.3" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.8" 0.8" 4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.8" 1.3" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.8" 1.3" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.8" 1.2" 3.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 4.8" 1.3" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Oct in Duchesne 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 ~750 GDD — county provides 1,470 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Duchesne County, UT

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors May 31 May 31 โ€“ Jun 14
Direct Sow May 24 May 24 โ€“ Jun 14
Harvest August 2 Aug 2 โ€“ Oct 11

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.1"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

147 days in Duchesne County

Growing Tips for Peppers in Duchesne County

Direct sow Peppers outdoors after May 10 in Duchesne 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.

Duchesne County receives only 13" of rain annually. Peppers needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Duchesne County, UT?

Duchesne County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Duchesne County, UT?

Duchesne County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is October 4.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Duchesne County gardeners in Zone 4b 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 Duchesne County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.