When to plant bell peppers in Texas
Texas’s average last spring frost is March 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 245 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a). Bell Pepper needs 60–90 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Texas's growing season.
Texas covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant bell peppers in Texas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 22 – Apr 8, with seeds started indoors Jan 11 – Jan 25. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F and frost is over.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow bell peppers in Texas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 11 – Jan 25). Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 7-14 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 82°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Mar 22 – Apr 8). Space plants about 18 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: aphids, flea beetle, pepper maggot, tomato hornworm. Diseases and disorders: bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, blossom-end rot (calcium disorder), phytophthora blight.
- Harvest (from about May 28 – Jun 27). Bell Pepper takes 60-90 days to reach harvest. Needs warm soil; wait until nights stay above 55 F to transplant. Green peppers are just unripe coloured peppers left another 2-3 weeks.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Texas’s average frost dates. More in the full bell pepper growing guide.
Bell Pepper planting dates by USDA zone in Texas
Texas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the bell pepper dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant bell pepper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 22 – May 9 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 12 – Apr 29 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 27 – Apr 13 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Feb 6 – Feb 23 |
Questions gardeners in Texas ask
When is the best time to plant bell peppers in Texas?
Plant bell pepper transplants outdoors in Texas between March 22 and April 8. That timing is set by Texas's average last spring frost of March 15; Texas spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start bell pepper seeds indoors in Texas?
Start seeds indoors between January 11 and January 25, about 8 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 22.
What is the latest I can plant bell peppers in Texas?
About September 16. Bell peppers need at least 60 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around November 15 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will bell peppers planted in Texas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, bell peppers are usually ready from about May 28 to June 27, 60-90 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Texas?
On average around March 15, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 245 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.