How to grow bell peppers in a raised bed
Peppers love heat. Wait until nights stay above 55°F before planting out.
Spacing1 plant per square foot
How to startStart seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost, or buy young plants
When to plantAbout 2 weeks after your last spring frost
Time to harvestAbout 70 days
Grows toAbout 2 ft tall
When to plant bell peppers in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Mar 25 | Jun 3 | — |
| Zone 3b | Mar 20 | May 29 | — |
| Zone 4a | Mar 17 | May 26 | — |
| Zone 4b | Mar 13 | May 22 | — |
| Zone 5a | Mar 9 | May 18 | — |
| Zone 5b | Mar 3 | May 12 | — |
| Zone 6a | Feb 25 | May 6 | — |
| Zone 6b | Feb 18 | Apr 29 | — |
| Zone 7a | Feb 11 | Apr 22 | — |
| Zone 7b | Feb 4 | Apr 15 | — |
| Zone 8a | Jan 28 | Apr 8 | — |
| Zone 8b | Jan 18 | Mar 29 | — |
| Zone 9a | Jan 4 | Mar 15 | — |
| Zone 9b | Dec 21 | Mar 1 | — |
| Zone 10a | Dec 6 | Feb 14 | — |
| Zone 10b | Nov 20 | Jan 29 | — |
Tips for raised beds
- In square-foot gardening, plant one plant in each 1 × 1 ft square.
- It stays fairly short, so it can go near the south (sunny) edge of the bed.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy bell pepper seeds
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your bell peppers go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
Open the free planner →