When to Plant Peppers

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GardenSays

Start pepper seeds indoors Feb 24 – Mar 10, transplant outside May 19 – May 26.

Start seeds indoors: Feb 24 – Mar 10
Transplant outside: May 19 – May 26
Last frost (typ.): May 5

In Minneapolis, MN, the typical last frost lands around May 5. Working back 8-10 weeks gives you a seed-starting window of Feb 24 – Mar 10 indoors. Peppers are even more cold-sensitive than tomatoes, so wait until May 19-May 26 — after frost danger AND once soil hits ~65°F.

That leaves roughly 132 days of growing season before the typical first fall frost (Oct 5) — enough for most varieties. In a short-season area, favor early-maturing varieties (check the days-to-maturity on the tag).

⚠ This year's transplant window (May 19 – May 26) has passed — dates shown are for planning next season.

Why

✓Frost kills tender seedlings outright, and cold soil stunts them even without frost — both dates matter.
✓The 50% frost date is a planning midpoint: a late frost is still possible, so keep covers handy for the first two weeks.

When this doesn't apply

→Season extenders (row covers, walls of water, cold frames) let you plant 2-3 weeks earlier than these windows.
→Frost dates are area averages — low spots and valley floors run colder than the local average.

How this was calculated

1. Last spring frostMay 5
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
2. Seed starting windowFeb 24 – Mar 10
Pepper: start indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost (May 5)
3. Transplant windowMay 19 – May 26
Pepper is very frost-tender: go out 14-21 days after the last frost, once soil reaches 65°F
4. First fall frostOct 5
Minneapolis, MN: typical first 32°F frost in fall — the season's endpoint

Data sources

University of Minnesota Extension — Growing peppers in home gardens — Start pepper seeds indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost; peppers need warmer soil than tomatoes, so transplant 2-3 weeks after the last frost date. (checked 2026-07-15)
NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)

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