When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in Charleston
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Charleston's last spring frost of Feb 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jan 7 – Jan 28
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 13 – May 4
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 17 – Jul 12
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
Charleston's 310-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on Charleston'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 8
DEC 15
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in Charleston?
Expect to harvest from around mid June (Jun 17–Jul 12) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in Charleston?
Start seeds indoors around early January (Jan 7–Jan 28) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in Charleston?
Transplant outdoors around mid April (Apr 13–May 4) in Charleston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Charleston?
Charleston has roughly 310 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 Charleston's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.