When to Plant Peppers in Arizona
In Arizona, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Jan 18 – Feb 1 in Bullhead City to Jun 18 – Jul 2 in Flagstaff. In Phoenix, it's Jan 22 – Feb 5. The average last spring frost differs by about 22 weeks across the state (Jan 4 in Bullhead City, Jun 4 in Flagstaff), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Arizona by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apache Junction | 9b | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Avondale | 9b | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Buckeye | 9b | Oct 29 – Nov 12 | Jan 21 – Feb 4 |
| Bullhead City | 10a | Oct 26 – Nov 9 | Jan 18 – Feb 1 |
| Camp Verde | 8b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Casa Grande | 9a | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Chandler | 9b | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 |
| Chino Valley | 8a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Coolidge | 9a | Dec 9 – Dec 23 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Cottonwood | 8b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Douglas | 8a | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| El Mirage | 9b | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | Feb 3 – Feb 17 |
| Eloy | 9a | Dec 16 – Dec 30 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Flagstaff | 6a | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jun 18 – Jul 2 |
| Florence | 9a | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Fountain Hills | 9b | Oct 28 – Nov 11 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
| Gilbert | 9b | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Glendale | 9b | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | Feb 3 – Feb 17 |
| Goodyear | 9b | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Kingman | 9a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Lake Havasu City | 10a | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Marana | 9b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Maricopa | 9a | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Mesa | 9b | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Nogales | 8b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Oro Valley | 9a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Paradise Valley | 10a | Oct 28 – Nov 11 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
| Payson | 8b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Peoria | 9b | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Phoenix | 9b | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Jan 22 – Feb 5 |
| Prescott | 7b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Prescott Valley | 7b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Queen Creek | 9b | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Sahuarita | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Scottsdale | 10a | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 |
| Show Low | 7a | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | May 19 – Jun 2 |
| Sierra Vista | 8b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Surprise | 9b | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Tempe | 10a | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 |
| Tucson | 9b | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
Parts of Arizona rarely see frost (for example Yuma, San Luis, Somerton). There, planting is timed by heat rather than frost, usually in the cooler months; look up your ZIP code for details.
See all frost dates in Arizona, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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