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When to Plant Peppers in Monroe County, PA

Peppers

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.

Monroe County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 170 days.

At an elevation of 532 feet, Monroe County receives approximately 42.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Peppers to ensure they mature before fall.

Monroe County, PA (Zone 6b) Moderate season
170 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
170 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Monroe County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

How Much Peppers to Grow

3-5 lbs
Average yield per plant
3
Plants per person
6 sq ft
Space per person

For a family of 4, plant approximately 12 peppers plants in about 24 sq ft. In Monroe County's 170-day season, you'll have plenty of time for a full harvest. Plan your garden layout →

Peppers Planting Timeline — Monroe County, PA

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 19 Feb 19 – Mar 5
Transplant Outdoors May 14 May 14 – May 28
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 – May 28
Harvest July 16 Jul 16 – Sep 24

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

170 days in Monroe County

Growing Tips for Monroe 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 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 35°F, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 300 ft for purity. Hot and sweet peppers can cross-pollinate.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peppers in Monroe County, PA?

Monroe County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Monroe County, PA?

Monroe County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 17.

🌱

Your Monroe County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Monroe County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Monroe County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.