When can I plant bell pepper outside?

Direct sow or transplant 3 weeks after your last spring frost.

How long until bell pepper is ready to harvest?

60-90 days. Firm, glossy skin with full color development; fruit snaps cleanly from stem

When to Plant Bell Pepper

Capsicum annuum

vegetableZones 3–11beginner

Sweet, crunchy peppers that ripen from green to red, orange, or yellow. Warm-season crop that benefits from staking. Rich in vitamin C.

Planting calendar

Start seeds indoors

8 weeks before your last spring frost.

Direct sow / transplant

3 weeks after your last spring frost.

Peppers need warm soil (65°F+) to thrive

Spacing & harvest

Plant spacing: 18-24 inches
Row spacing: 24-36 inches
Days to harvest: 60-90 days
Ready when: Firm, glossy skin with full color development; fruit snaps cleanly from stem

Companion planting

Plant near

Basil — Repels aphids and spider mites
Carrot — Does not compete and loosens soil
Onion — Deters many common pests with its scent

Keep away from

Fennel — Inhibits growth of most garden plants
Kohlrabi — Stunts pepper growth

Get bell pepper planting dates for your exact zone

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

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Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns