When to plant peppers in zone 7a
In zone 7a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 16, start peppers indoors February 17 to March 17 and plant out May 5 to 19.
The zone 7a schedule for peppers
- Start seeds indoors
- February 17 to March 17
- Plant out
- May 5 to 19
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 to 12
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- May 5
- First harvest, roughly
- July 9 to August 12
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 3,981 ZIP codes in zone 7a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for peppers.
Frost risk in zone 7a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 7a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 29 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 15 to November 2. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 1Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 16Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 3Safe: 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.
Peppers in zone 7a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | Mar 31 | Jan 31 to Feb 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 |
| Wichita, KS | Apr 11 | Feb 10 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 |
| Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Apr 13 | Feb 9 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| St. Louis, MO | Apr 8 | Feb 8 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 10 |
| Amarillo, TX | Apr 13 | Feb 9 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| Providence, RI | Apr 11 | Mar 4 to Apr 1 | May 20 to Jun 3 |
| Paterson, NJ | Apr 3 | Feb 18 to Mar 18 | May 6 to 20 |
| Bridgeport, CT | Apr 5 | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | May 16 to 30 |
| Meridian, ID | Apr 24 | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | May 16 to 30 |
| Stamford, CT | Apr 12 | Mar 2 to 30 | May 18 to Jun 1 |
| New Haven, CT | Apr 5 | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | May 16 to 30 |
| Allentown, PA | Apr 20 | Feb 21 to Mar 21 | May 9 to 23 |
How to grow peppersAll zonesPeppers in zone 6bPeppers in zone 7bAbout zone 7a
Sources
- Pepper (HGIC 1316) · Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center
- How to Grow Peppers in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Easy Gardening: Peppers (EHT-038) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021) · UF/IFAS Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination (Garden Notes GN 154) · UC Cooperative Extension Sacramento County (UC ANR)
- Capsicum annuum · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Vegetable Gardening in Containers (E-545) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables · University of Maryland Extension