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When to Plant Peppers in Latimer County, OK

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.

Latimer County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 209 days.

At an elevation of 773 feet, Latimer County receives approximately 33.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Latimer County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
209 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
209 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Latimer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 21 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 1 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Sep 16

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 Latimer County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.2) overlaps with Peppers's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.6%). 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 209-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 948 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€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.8" 3.8" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.8" 5.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.8" 4.7" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.8" 4.6" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.8" 3.5" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.8" 3" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.8" 2.2" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Latimer 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 ~1,256 GDD — county provides 3,500 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Latimer County, OK

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 1 Feb 1 โ€“ Feb 15
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 โ€“ May 3
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ May 3
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 โ€“ Aug 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
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 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

209 days in Latimer County

Growing Tips for Peppers in Latimer County

Direct sow Peppers outdoors after April 05 in Latimer 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 Latimer County, OK?

Latimer County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Latimer County, OK?

Latimer County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 31.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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