Peppers planting calendar for USDA Zone 6a

Western NC mountains, southern PA, central OH, northern MO. Average last spring frost May 1, first fall frost October 1 — a 153-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: good

Peppers is frost-tender, so timing the outdoor transplant to the last frost matters more here than in warmer zones. Row cover buys 2 weeks of head start.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

February 27 – March 13

Transplant outdoors

May 15 – June 5

Expected first harvest

July 31 – August 28

Fall planting window

July 2 – July 23

Fall harvest window

September 17 – October 15

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing: 18″
Row spacing: 30″
Seed depth: 0.25″
Soil temperature: 75–85°F
Frost tolerance: tender
Days to harvest: 70 days

Grower notes for Zone 6a

Peppers need warmer soil than tomatoes. Wait until nights are consistently above 55°F or fruit set stalls.

Plant near: basil, onions, carrots

Keep away from: fennel, kohlrabi

Other nightshades for Zone 6a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

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