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When to plant hot peppers in Zone 6

In Zone 6, the last spring frost usually passes around April 21 and the first fall frost arrives around October 17, leaving about 179 frost-free days. The windows below are computed from those frost dates, with the same math the Dibble app uses.

Generous season. Spring and fall plantings both productive.

Last spring frost: April 21First fall frost: October 17Frost-free days: 179Days to maturity: 80Hardiness: Tender

Planting windows for hot peppers in Zone 6

When to plant hot peppers in Zone 6
TaskWindow
Start seeds indoorsFeb 24 to Mar 10
TransplantMay 5 to May 19
Estimated harvestJul 24 to Oct 2

The harvest estimate counts 80 days to maturity, then a picking window of about 70 days. These windows use typical frost dates for Zone 6; Dibble pins them to your exact ZIP code.

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Hot Pepper in a Zone 6 season

Zone 6 gives about 179 frost-free days. Hot Pepper needs roughly 80 days from transplant. That leaves about 99 days of slack, so there is room for a late start or a second planting.

How to grow hot peppers

Chilies need even more heat than sweet peppers. Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost and transplant 2 weeks after, into warm soil.

Companion plants

Good neighbors for Hot Pepper:

BasilOnionCarrotMarigold

Better kept apart:

FennelBean (bush)

Hot Pepper in other zones

Not in Zone 6? Pick your zone for the same dated windows.

Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9Zone 10Zone 11

Keep exploring

Hot Pepper: the full growing guide · The Zone 6 planting calendar · Every crop and zone


Plant at the right time this season

Dibble builds your calendar in under a minute. Free to start, no account needed.

Dates are estimates based on typical frost dates for the zone. Your yard has its own microclimate, so use them as a starting point and adjust as you learn your space.