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When to Plant Peppers in Bastrop County, TX

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.

Bastrop County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 27 and the first fall frost is December 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 277 days.

At an elevation of 3,716 feet, Bastrop County receives approximately 57 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Peppers, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peppers root diseases.

Bastrop County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
277 days
Last Spring Frost February 27
277 growing days
First Fall Frost December 1

Bastrop County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay

Soil pH

7.2-7.9

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 Bastrop County's 277-day season, you'll have plenty of time for a full harvest. Plan your garden layout →

Monthly Watering Guide for Peppers

Peppers needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Peppers Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Mar 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.3" 6.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 8.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 9.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in Bastrop County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Peppers Planting Timeline — Bastrop County, TX

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 16 Jan 16 – Jan 30
Transplant Outdoors March 6 Mar 6 – Mar 20
Direct Sow February 27 Feb 27 – Mar 20
Harvest May 8 May 8 – Jul 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August
September
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 9a

📆 Growing Season

277 days in Bastrop County

Growing Tips for Bastrop 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 Bastrop County, TX?

Bastrop County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 27. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bastrop County, TX?

Bastrop County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 27 and first fall frost is December 1.

🌱

Your Bastrop County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Bastrop County (Zone 9a). 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 Bastrop County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

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