When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in New Orleans
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off New Orleans's last spring frost of Feb 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jan 14 – Feb 4
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Mar 29 – Apr 19
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 2 – Jun 27
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
New Orleans's 304-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on New Orleans'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 9
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in New Orleans?
Expect to harvest from around early June (Jun 2–Jun 27) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 73%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in New Orleans?
Start seeds indoors around mid January (Jan 14–Feb 4) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 77%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in New Orleans?
Transplant outdoors around late March (Mar 29–Apr 19) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
How long is the growing season in New Orleans?
New Orleans has roughly 304 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 New Orleans's frost dates.
Confidence 81/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.