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When to plant peppers in zone 3b

In zone 3b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 17, start peppers indoors March 23 to April 20 and plant out June 8 to 22.

The zone 3b schedule for peppers

Start seeds indoors
March 23 to April 20
Plant out
June 8 to 22
Sow outdoors
June 8 to 15
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
June 8
First harvest, roughly
August 12 to September 15

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 200 ZIP codes in zone 3b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for peppers.

Frost risk in zone 3b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 3b, the typical last frost ranges from about May 12 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 29 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 13 to October 1. For a typical place in the zone:

  • May 4Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 17Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 30Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Peppers are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.

Your dates for peppers

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant peppers where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

How to grow peppersAll zonesPeppers in zone 3aPeppers in zone 4aAbout zone 3b

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