When to plant peppers
Peppers want more warmth than tomatoes. Seed germinates slowly (often 10–14 days) and best at 80–85°F, and transplants stall in cold soil, so they go out a week or two later than tomatoes: two to four weeks after the average last frost.
Start pepper seed eight to ten weeks before the last frost, earlier than tomatoes, and use a heat mat. Hot peppers such as habaneros are slowest and can start at ten to twelve weeks.
- Start seeds indoors
- 8–10 weeks before last frost
- Transplant outside
- 2–4 weeks after last frost
- Frost
- Frost-tender: killed at 32°F
- Soil temp
- 65°F (18°C) or warmer
- Depth
- ¼ in (seed)
- Spacing
- 18 in apart, rows 30 in · 1 per square foot
- Harvest
- 60–90 days from transplant
Your dates for peppers
Tips for growing peppers
- Wait for nights consistently above 55°F before planting out; cold nights cause peppers to drop flowers.
- Black plastic mulch or a warm, south-facing bed speeds early growth.
- Stake or cage tall varieties: fruit-laden branches snap easily.
- Leave peppers on the plant longer for full colour and sweetness; red, yellow and orange peppers are ripe green ones.
Choosing neighbours? See companion plants for peppers. Working out how many fit? Use the spacing calculator.
Peppers: common timing questions
How long do peppers take to germinate?
Usually 7–14 days at 80–85°F soil. In a cool room it can take three weeks or fail entirely, which is why a heat mat helps.
Can I plant peppers and tomatoes together?
Yes. They share care, but rotate the whole bed to a different family next year because they share soil diseases.
Why are my pepper flowers falling off?
Nights below about 55°F, days above 90°F, or uneven watering. It usually stops once weather evens out.