Peppers planting calendar for USDA Zone 6b

Boone NC, northern VA, central KY, southern IN. Average last spring frost April 24, first fall frost October 8 — a 167-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 20 – March 6

Transplant outdoors

May 8 – May 29

Expected first harvest

July 24 – August 21

Fall planting window

July 9 – July 30

Fall harvest window

September 24 – October 22

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 6b

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 6b

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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