When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in Melbourne
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Melbourne's last spring frost of Aug 28.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jul 3 – Jul 24
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Sep 11 – Oct 2
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Nov 15 – Dec 10
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
Melbourne's 270-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on Melbourne's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
AUG 28
MAY 25
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in Melbourne?
Expect to harvest from around mid November (Nov 15–Dec 10) in Melbourne, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 77%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in Melbourne?
Start seeds indoors around early July (Jul 3–Jul 24) in Melbourne, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 82%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in Melbourne?
Transplant outdoors around mid September (Sep 11–Oct 2) in Melbourne, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Melbourne?
Melbourne has roughly 270 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow pepper (sweet & chili) to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow pepper (sweet & chili) 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Melbourne's frost dates.
Confidence 86/100 · NOAA GHCN-Daily · 1991–2020 normals · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.