When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in Bakersfield
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Bakersfield's last spring frost of Feb 3.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jan 1 – Jan 22
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
May 2 – May 23
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 6 – Jul 31
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
Bakersfield's 315-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on Bakersfield'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
FEB 3
DEC 8
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in Bakersfield?
Expect to harvest from around early July (Jul 6–Jul 31) in Bakersfield, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 77%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in Bakersfield?
Start seeds indoors around early January (Jan 1–Jan 22) in Bakersfield, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 82%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in Bakersfield?
Transplant outdoors around early May (May 2–May 23) in Bakersfield, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 83%.
How long is the growing season in Bakersfield?
Bakersfield has roughly 315 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 Bakersfield's frost dates.
Confidence 86/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.