Planting calendar

When to plant peppers in New Hampshire

New Hampshire spans USDA hardiness zones 3b-6a. Average last spring frost: 05-15. This calendar gives you the indoor start, transplant, and direct-sow dates for Capsicum annuum.

New Hampshire planting dates for peppers

PhaseDate in New HampshireNotes
Start seeds indoorsMarch 610 weeks before last frost
Transplant outdoorsMay 292 weeks after last frost

Why these dates

Peppers are slower than tomatoes and even more heat-loving. Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only after nights stay above 55F.

The dates above are anchored to New Hampshire's average last spring frost date of 05-15, with offsets standard across university Extension publications. For zone-specific local timing, use the frost date lookup tool with your ZIP code.

More on growing peppers

The full growing guide for peppers - varieties, soil, fertilization, pests, harvest, storage - is here: Peppers growing guide.

More New Hampshire planting information

Sources