When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in Chesapeake
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Chesapeake's last spring frost of Mar 18.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 1 – Feb 22
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
May 12 – Jun 2
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 16 – Aug 10
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
Chesapeake's 248-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on Chesapeake'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
FROST
MAR 18
NOV 18
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in Chesapeake?
Expect to harvest from around mid July (Jul 16–Aug 10) in Chesapeake, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in Chesapeake?
Start seeds indoors around early February (Feb 1–Feb 22) in Chesapeake, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in Chesapeake?
Transplant outdoors around mid May (May 12–Jun 2) in Chesapeake, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Chesapeake?
Chesapeake has roughly 248 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 Chesapeake's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.