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When to Plant Peppers in La Salle County, TX

La Salle County, Texas Zone 9a May

This month in La Salle County, Texas

Each item below is timed to La Salle County, Texas's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost February 14
Avg. first frost December 3
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs
  1. Collect peppers at their peak

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: peppers

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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.

La Salle County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 14 and the first fall frost is December 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 292 days.

At an elevation of 2,270 feet, La Salle County receives approximately 57.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Peppers root diseases.

La Salle County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
292 days
Last Spring Frost February 14
292 growing days
First Fall Frost December 3
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La Salle County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (160 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 19 Transplant: Feb 6 🍅 Harvest: Apr 10 – Jun 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (152 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 3 Transplant: Feb 21 🍅 Harvest: Apr 25 – Jul 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (141 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Aug 1

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 La Salle County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.6) is more alkaline than Peppers prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in La Salle County is excellent for Peppers — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Peppers.

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

5
successive plantings in your 292-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 04 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,591 gal / 100 sq ft

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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.8" 2" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Mar 4.8" 3.4" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.8" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.8" 7.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.8" 10.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.8" 7.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.8" 7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.8" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.8" 3.6" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.8" 2" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 4.8" 1.6" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in La Salle County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 ~1,425 GDD — county provides 5,567 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline — La Salle County, TX

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 3 Jan 3 – Jan 17
Transplant Outdoors February 21 Feb 21 – Mar 7
Direct Sow February 14 Feb 14 – Mar 7
Harvest April 25 Apr 25 – Jul 4

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

292 days in La Salle County

Growing Tips for Peppers in La Salle County

Direct sow Peppers outdoors after February 14 in La Salle 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 →

🌾 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 La Salle County, TX?

La Salle County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 14. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is La Salle County, TX?

La Salle County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 14 and first fall frost is December 3.

🌱

Your La Salle County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for La Salle 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.

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

Sources & credits

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