When to Plant Peppers in Maryland
In Maryland, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Apr 7 – Apr 21 in Baltimore to May 13 – May 27 in Frostburg. In Baltimore, it's Apr 7 – Apr 21. The average last spring frost differs by about 5 weeks across the state (Mar 24 in Baltimore, Apr 29 in Frostburg), 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 Maryland by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 7b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Annapolis | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Baltimore | 8a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Bel Air | 7b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Bladensburg | 7b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Bowie | 7a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Brunswick | 7a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Cambridge | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Chesapeake Beach | 8a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Cheverly | 7b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| College Park | 7b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Cumberland | 7a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| District Heights | 7b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Easton | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Elkton | 7b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Frederick | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Frostburg | 6b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Fruitland | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Gaithersburg | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Glenarden | 7b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Greenbelt | 7b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Hagerstown | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Hampstead | 7a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Havre de Grace | 7b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Hyattsville | 7b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| La Plata | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | May 1 – May 15 |
| Laurel | 7b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Mount Airy | 7a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Mount Rainier | 7b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| New Carrollton | 7b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Ocean City | 8a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Poolesville | 7b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Riverdale Park | 7b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Rockville | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Salisbury | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Takoma Park | 7b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Taneytown | 7a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Thurmont | 7a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Walkersville | 7a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Westminster | 7a | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
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 Maryland, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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