Growing Calendar

MenuClose

HomeAboutSearch

When to plant peppers in zone 7b

In zone 7b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 5, start peppers indoors February 8 to March 8 and plant out April 26 to May 10. For a fall crop, plant July 12 to August 9.

The zone 7b schedule for peppers

Start seeds indoors
February 8 to March 8
Plant out
April 26 to May 10
Sow outdoors
April 26 to May 3
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
April 26
First harvest, roughly
June 30 to August 3
Plant for a fall crop
July 12 to August 9

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 3,025 ZIP codes in zone 7b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for peppers.

Frost risk in zone 7b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 7b, the typical last frost ranges from about March 30 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 17 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 24 to November 18. For a typical place in the zone:

  • March 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • April 5Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 21Safe: 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

Peppers in zone 7b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
New York, NYMar 30Feb 16 to Mar 16May 4 to 18
Philadelphia, PAMar 30Feb 8 to Mar 8Apr 26 to May 10
Nashville-Davidson, TNMar 31Jan 26 to Feb 23Apr 13 to 27
Oklahoma City, OKApr 4Feb 1 to Mar 1Apr 19 to May 3
Albuquerque, NMApr 6Feb 11 to Mar 11Apr 29 to May 13
Tulsa, OKMar 31Jan 26 to Feb 23Apr 13 to 27
Newark, NJApr 2Feb 17 to Mar 17May 5 to 19
Jersey City, NJApr 2Feb 17 to Mar 17May 5 to 19
Reno, NVApr 20Feb 27 to Mar 27May 15 to 29
Lubbock, TXApr 4Jan 24 to Feb 21Apr 11 to 25
Richmond, VAApr 3Feb 3 to Mar 3Apr 21 to May 5
Salt Lake City, UTApr 8Feb 24 to Mar 24May 12 to 26

How to grow peppersAll zonesPeppers in zone 7aPeppers in zone 8aAbout zone 7b

Sources