Peppers planting calendar for USDA Zone 9a

Gainesville FL, Houston, New Orleans, southern GA coast. Average last spring frost February 25, first fall frost December 1 — a 279-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

Peppers is well suited to Zone 9a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

December 24 – January 7

Transplant outdoors

March 11 – April 1

Expected first harvest

May 27 – June 24

Fall planting window

September 1 – September 22

Fall harvest window

November 17 – December 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 9a

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 9a

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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