How to grow pepper
Peppers stall below about 55°F soil; wait for warm nights rather than rushing them out.
Rotation and family
Pepper belongs to the nightshades (Solanaceae). Heavy feeders that share early blight, late blight and soil-borne wilts.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the fruiting-crop bed. Avoid growing it where any nightshades grew in the last three years.
When to plant pepper by zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow / plant out |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Jun 3 – Jun 24 |
| 4 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | May 26 – Jun 16 |
| 5 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | May 14 – Jun 4 |
| 6 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 4 – May 25 |
| 7 | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 22 – May 13 |
| 8 | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 9 – Apr 30 |
| 9 | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Mar 8 – Mar 29 |
| 10 | Nov 30 – Dec 14 | Feb 15 – Mar 8 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Pepper questions
When should I plant pepper?
Plant pepper outdoors 2 weeks after your last spring frost. Start seeds indoors about 9 weeks before your last frost.
How far apart should I plant pepper?
About 18 inches apart, or 1 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with pepper?
Traditional companions include basil, carrot, marigold, okra, onion, tomato. Keep it away from bush bean, fennel.
How long does pepper take to grow?
Typically 60–90 days from transplanting to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.