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When to Plant Peppers in Florence County, WI

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.

Florence County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 26 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 118 days.

At an elevation of 1,147 feet, Florence County receives approximately 34.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Peppers to ensure they mature before fall.

Florence County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
118 days
Last Spring Frost May 26
118 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21

Florence County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Oct 21
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Oct 27
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Jul 2 🍅 Harvest: Sep 3 – Nov 12

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
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Peppers needs ~862 GDD — county provides 1,357 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Florence County, WI

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors June 16 Jun 16 โ€“ Jun 30
Direct Sow June 9 Jun 9 โ€“ Jun 30
Harvest August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Oct 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April โ€”
May โ€”
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
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 4a

Growing Season

118 days

Growing Tips for Florence 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 Florence County, WI?

Florence County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 26. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Florence County, WI?

Florence County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 26 and first fall frost is September 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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