When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in Des Moines
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Des Moines's last spring frost of Apr 17.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 6 – Mar 27
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jun 1 – Jun 22
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 5 – Aug 30
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
Des Moines's 179-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on Des Moines'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 17
OCT 16
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in Des Moines?
Expect to harvest from around early August (Aug 5–Aug 30) in Des Moines, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in Des Moines?
Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 6–Mar 27) in Des Moines, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in Des Moines?
Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 1–Jun 22) in Des Moines, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Des Moines?
Des Moines has roughly 179 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 Des Moines's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.