When to Plant Peppers in North Carolina
In North Carolina, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Mar 29 – Apr 12 in Goldsboro to Apr 30 – May 14 in Statesville. In Charlotte, it's Apr 13 – Apr 27. The average last spring frost differs by about 5 weeks across the state (Mar 15 in Goldsboro, Apr 16 in Statesville), 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 North Carolina by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Asheville | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Burlington | 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Cary | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Chapel Hill | 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Charlotte | 8a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Clayton | 8a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Concord | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Cornelius | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Durham | 8a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Fayetteville | 8a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Fuquay-Varina | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Garner | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Gastonia | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Goldsboro | 8b | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Greensboro | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Greenville | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Hickory | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| High Point | 8a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Holly Springs | 8a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Huntersville | 8a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Indian Trail | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Jacksonville | 8b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Kannapolis | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Leland | 8b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Matthews | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Mint Hill | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Monroe | 8a | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Mooresville | 8a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Morrisville | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| New Bern | 8b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Raleigh | 8a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Rocky Mount | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Salisbury | 8a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Sanford | 8a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Statesville | 8a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Wake Forest | 8a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Wilmington | 8b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Wilson | 8a | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Winston-Salem | 8a | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
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 North Carolina, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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