When to Plant Peppers in California
In California, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Jan 15 – Jan 29 in Fremont to Jan 14 – Jan 28 in Oxnard. In Los Angeles, it's Jan 16 – Jan 30. The average last spring frost differs by about 52 weeks across the state (Jan 1 in Fremont, Dec 31 in Oxnard), 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 California by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | 10a | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Bakersfield | 9b | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Chula Vista | 10b | Oct 28 – Nov 11 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
| Corona | 10a | Nov 8 – Nov 22 | Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Elk Grove | 9b | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Escondido | 10a | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| Fontana | 10a | Oct 26 – Nov 9 | Jan 18 – Feb 1 |
| Fremont | 10a | Oct 23 – Nov 6 | Jan 15 – Jan 29 |
| Fresno | 9b | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Garden Grove | 10b | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Glendale | 10a | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| Hayward | 10a | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| Huntington Beach | 10b | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Irvine | 10a | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Lancaster | 8a | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Long Beach | 10b | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Los Angeles | 10b | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| Modesto | 9b | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Moreno Valley | 9b | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 |
| Oakland | 10a | Oct 29 – Nov 12 | Jan 21 – Feb 4 |
| Oceanside | 10a | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 |
| Ontario | 10a | Oct 26 – Nov 9 | Jan 18 – Feb 1 |
| Oxnard | 10b | Oct 22 – Nov 5 | Jan 14 – Jan 28 |
| Palmdale | 8b | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Pomona | 10a | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Jan 22 – Feb 5 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 10a | Oct 26 – Nov 9 | Jan 18 – Feb 1 |
| Riverside | 10a | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Roseville | 9b | Dec 14 – Dec 28 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Sacramento | 9b | Nov 3 – Nov 17 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 |
| Salinas | 9b | Nov 20 – Dec 4 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| San Bernardino | 10a | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 |
| San Diego | 10b | Oct 28 – Nov 11 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
| San Francisco | 10a | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| San Jose | 9b | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| Santa Ana | 10b | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Santa Clarita | 10a | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Jan 22 – Feb 5 |
| Santa Rosa | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Stockton | 9b | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Sunnyvale | 10a | Oct 28 – Nov 11 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
| Visalia | 9b | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 |
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.
See all frost dates in California, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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