When to plant chili peppers in Arizona
Arizona’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 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10b). Chili Pepper needs 70–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arizona's growing season.
Arizona 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 chili peppers in Arizona: 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 65°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 chili peppers in Arizona, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 11 – Jan 25). Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 7-21 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 85°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 24 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, spider mite. Diseases and disorders: bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, phytophthora blight.
- Harvest (from about Jun 7 – Jul 7). Chili Pepper takes 70-100 days to reach harvest. Superhots (C. chinense) can need 100+ days and the longest indoor start. Withholding some water late raises heat.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arizona’s average frost dates. More in the full chili pepper growing guide.
Chili Pepper planting dates by USDA zone in Arizona
Arizona spans USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10b. 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 chili pepper dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant chili pepper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 | May 10 | Sep 25 | 135 days | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 17 – Jun 3 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | May 7 – May 24 |
| 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 |
When to plant chili peppers in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona (this page) | March 15 | Mar 22 – Apr 8 |
| New Mexico | April 20 | Apr 27 – May 14 |
Questions gardeners in Arizona ask
When is the best time to plant chili peppers in Arizona?
Plant chili pepper transplants outdoors in Arizona between March 22 and April 8. That timing is set by Arizona's average last spring frost of March 15; Arizona spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start chili pepper seeds indoors in Arizona?
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 chili peppers in Arizona?
About September 6. Chili peppers need at least 70 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around November 15 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will chili peppers planted in Arizona be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, chili peppers are usually ready from about June 7 to July 7, 70-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Arizona?
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.