Blog

When to Plant Peppers in Concho County, TX

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.

Concho County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 232 days.

At an elevation of 3,848 feet, Concho County receives approximately 58.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peppers root diseases.

Concho County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
232 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
232 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Concho County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (92 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 8 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Aug 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (85 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 21 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (85 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Sep 7

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 Concho County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.4) overlaps with Peppers's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.0%). 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 232-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 14 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 115 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€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.8" 3.4" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.8" 6.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.8" 8.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.8" 9.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.8" 6.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.8" 6.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.8" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.8" 3.6" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.8" 2.2" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Concho 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 ~1,481 GDD — county provides 4,582 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Concho County, TX

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 21 Jan 21 โ€“ Feb 4
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Harvest June 10 Jun 10 โ€“ Aug 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
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 Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

232 days in Concho County

Growing Tips for Peppers in Concho County

Direct sow Peppers outdoors after March 25 in Concho 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 Concho County, TX?

Concho County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Concho County, TX?

Concho County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Concho County gardeners in Zone 8a 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 Concho County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.