When to Plant Peppers in Texas
In Texas, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Jan 23 – Feb 6 in Brownsville to Apr 29 – May 13 in Amarillo. In Houston, it's Feb 16 – Mar 2. The average last spring frost differs by about 14 weeks across the state (Jan 9 in Brownsville, Apr 15 in Amarillo), 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 Texas by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | 8a | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Allen | 8b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Amarillo | 7a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Arlington | 8b | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Austin | 9a | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Beaumont | 9b | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Brownsville | 10a | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Carrollton | 8b | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| College Station | 9a | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Conroe | 9a | Dec 16 – Dec 30 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Corpus Christi | 10a | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 |
| Dallas | 8b | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Denton | 8a | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| El Paso | 8b | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Fort Worth | 8b | Dec 25 – Jan 8 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Frisco | 8b | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Garland | 8b | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Grand Prairie | 8b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Houston | 9b | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Irving | 8b | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Killeen | 8b | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Laredo | 9b | Nov 16 – Nov 30 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 |
| League City | 9b | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Lewisville | 8b | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Lubbock | 7b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| McAllen | 10a | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| McKinney | 8b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Mesquite | 8b | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Midland | 8b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| New Braunfels | 9a | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Odessa | 8b | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Pasadena | 9b | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Pearland | 9b | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Plano | 8b | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Richardson | 8b | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Round Rock | 9a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| San Antonio | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Sugar Land | 9b | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 |
| Tyler | 8b | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Waco | 8b | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
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 Texas, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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