When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in Missoula
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Missoula's last spring frost of May 15.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 31 – Apr 21
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jul 8 – Jul 29
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Sep 11 – Oct 6
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
Missoula's 138-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on Missoula'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
MAY 15
OCT 4
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in Missoula?
Expect to harvest from around mid September (Sep 11–Oct 6) in Missoula, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 75%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in Missoula?
Start seeds indoors around late March (Mar 31–Apr 21) in Missoula, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in Missoula?
Transplant outdoors around early July (Jul 8–Jul 29) in Missoula, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
How long is the growing season in Missoula?
Missoula has roughly 138 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 Missoula's frost dates.
Confidence 83/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.