When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in Chicago
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Chicago's last spring frost of Apr 10.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 21 – Mar 14
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jun 4 – Jun 25
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 8 – Sep 2
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
Chicago's 206-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on Chicago'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
APR 10
OCT 31
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in Chicago?
Expect to harvest from around early August (Aug 8–Sep 2) in Chicago, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in Chicago?
Start seeds indoors around late February (Feb 21–Mar 14) in Chicago, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in Chicago?
Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 4–Jun 25) in Chicago, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
How long is the growing season in Chicago?
Chicago has roughly 206 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 Chicago's frost dates.
Confidence 84/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.