Peppers planting calendar for USDA Zone 9b

Orlando, Tampa, San Antonio, southern LA coast. Average last spring frost February 5, first fall frost December 15 — a 313-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent
Peppers is well suited to Zone 9b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors
December 4 – December 18
Transplant outdoors
February 19 – March 12
Expected first harvest
May 7 – June 4
Fall planting window
September 15 – October 6
Fall harvest window
December 1 – December 29

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 9b

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 9b

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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