When to Plant Peppers in New York
In New York, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Apr 15 – Apr 29 in New York to May 28 – Jun 11 in Kingston. In New York, it's Apr 15 – Apr 29. The average last spring frost differs by about 6 weeks across the state (Apr 1 in New York, May 14 in Kingston), 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 New York by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | 6a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Auburn | 6a | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | May 16 – May 30 |
| Binghamton | 6a | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | May 16 – May 30 |
| Buffalo | 6b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Elmira | 6a | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Freeport | 7b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Garden City | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Glen Cove | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Harrison | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Hempstead | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Ithaca | 6a | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 25 – Jun 8 |
| Jamestown | 6a | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 22 – Jun 5 |
| Kingston | 6b | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 28 – Jun 11 |
| Kiryas Joel | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Lindenhurst | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Long Beach | 7b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Middletown | 6b | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Mount Vernon | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| New Rochelle | 7b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| New York | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Newburgh | 6b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Niagara Falls | 6b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| North Tonawanda | 6b | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Ossining | 7a | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | May 9 – May 23 |
| Peekskill | 7a | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Port Chester | 7b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Poughkeepsie | 6b | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Rochester | 6b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Rockville Centre | 7b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Rome | 5b | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Saratoga Springs | 5b | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | May 16 – May 30 |
| Schenectady | 6a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Spring Valley | 7a | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Syracuse | 6a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Troy | 6a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Utica | 5b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Valley Stream | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Watertown | 5a | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | May 16 – May 30 |
| White Plains | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Yonkers | 7b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
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 New York, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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