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When to Plant Peppers in Kitsap County, WA

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.

Kitsap County, Washington is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 225 days.

At an elevation of 264 feet, Kitsap County receives approximately 38 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Kitsap County, WA (Zone 9a) Long season
225 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
225 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Kitsap County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.3

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 Kitsap County's 225-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 5.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.3" 3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 6.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Peppers Planting Timeline — Kitsap County, WA

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 11 Feb 11 – Feb 25
Transplant Outdoors April 1 Apr 1 – Apr 15
Direct Sow March 25 Mar 25 – Apr 15
Harvest June 3 Jun 3 – Aug 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

225 days in Kitsap County

Growing Tips for Kitsap 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 Kitsap County, WA?

Kitsap County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kitsap County, WA?

Kitsap County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 5.

🌱

Your Kitsap County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Kitsap 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 Kitsap County, WA. 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.