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When to plant peppers in zone 8b

In zone 8b, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 17, start peppers indoors January 13 to February 10 and plant out March 31 to April 14. For a fall crop, plant July 24 to August 21.

The zone 8b schedule for peppers

Start seeds indoors
January 13 to February 10
Plant out
March 31 to April 14
Sow outdoors
March 31 to April 7
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
March 31
Safest planting date (10% frost risk)
April 6
First harvest, roughly
June 4 to July 8
Plant for a fall crop
July 24 to August 21

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,613 ZIP codes in zone 8b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for peppers.

Frost risk in zone 8b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8b, the typical last frost ranges from about March 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 3 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from November 2 to November 24. For a typical place in the zone:

  • February 25Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 17Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 6Safe: 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 8b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
San Antonio, TXFeb 26Dec 18 to Jan 15Mar 5 to 19
Dallas, TXMar 2Dec 30 to Jan 27Mar 17 to 31
Fort Worth, TXMar 11Jan 8 to Feb 5Mar 26 to Apr 9
El Paso, TXMar 2Jan 3 to 31Mar 21 to Apr 4
Las Vegas, NVJan 20Dec 26 to Jan 23Mar 13 to 27
Virginia Beach, VAMar 29Feb 4 to Mar 4Apr 22 to May 6
Arlington, TXMar 9Jan 2 to 30Mar 20 to Apr 3
Plano, TXMar 7Jan 4 to Feb 1Mar 22 to Apr 5
Irving, TXMar 2Dec 30 to Jan 27Mar 17 to 31
Garland, TXMar 7Jan 4 to Feb 1Mar 22 to Apr 5
Frisco, TXMar 18Jan 12 to Feb 9Mar 30 to Apr 13
McKinney, TXMar 18Jan 12 to Feb 9Mar 30 to Apr 13

How to grow peppersAll zonesPeppers in zone 8aPeppers in zone 9aAbout zone 8b

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