Tabasco Pepper in Zone 10a & 10b
Capsicum frutescens
Yes, Tabasco pepper grows in zones 10a and 10b. Start seeds indoors Nov 21–Nov 28 and plant out Feb 13–Feb 20.
When to plant Tabasco pepper in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Nov 21–Nov 28 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Feb 13–Feb 20 |
| Estimated harvest | May 9–May 16 (~85 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2.5-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of Tabasco pepper in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Bell PepperFeb–Apr
- Aji Amarillo PepperFeb 13–Feb 20
- Datil PepperFeb 13–Feb 20
- Habanero PepperFeb 13–Feb 20
- Lemon Drop PepperFeb 13–Feb 20
- Rocoto PepperFeb 13–Feb 20
Tabasco is the pepper behind the Louisiana hot sauce of the same name. Botanically it is *Capsicum frutescens*, a different species from bells and jalapeños, and it grows into a bigger, bushier plant with small upright fruit.
How Tabasco pepper fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Tabasco pepper needs about 85 days from transplant to first harvest.
Tabasco Pepper planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Mar 21–Mar 28 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | Sep 6–Sep 13 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 6–Mar 13 | May 29–Jun 5 | Aug 22–Aug 29 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 24–May 31 | Aug 17–Aug 24 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 14–Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | Aug 2–Aug 9 |
| 7a & 7b | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 18–Jul 25 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 14–Jan 21 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jul 2–Jul 9 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 7–Dec 14 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 25–Jun 1 |
| 10a & 10b (your zone) | Nov 21–Nov 28 | Feb 13–Feb 20 | May 9–May 16 |
| 11a & 11bSummer window | May–Nov | Aug–Feb | ~85 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 85 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
- Basil: Reputed to repel aphids and improve pepper growth nearby, but a controlled garden trial testing this same claim on a related crop found no pest-reduction benefit from basil, and found higher pest counts on the basil-companioned plants. Treat this pairing as unproven, not as a working pest deterrent.
- Onion: Reputed to deter many common pepper pests, though this specific pairing hasn't been tested the way onion/carrot pest-masking has. Treat it as garden tradition.
Where to buy Tabasco pepper seeds
True Leaf Market · Burpee (Tabasco pepper seeds)
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing Tabasco pepper" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Tabasco Pepper in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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