Carolina Reaper Pepper in Zone 11a & 11b
Capsicum chinense
Yes, Carolina Reaper pepper grows in zones 11a and 11b. Start seeds indoors in May–Nov and plant out in Aug–Feb.
When to plant Carolina Reaper pepper in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b 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.
| Window | Summer window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | May–Nov |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Aug–Feb |
| Estimated harvest | ~115 days after transplanting |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-5 ft.
Zone 11b dates sourced from edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of Carolina Reaper pepper in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Bell PepperAug–Feb
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)Aug–Feb
- 7 Pot Primo PepperAug–Feb
- Aji Amarillo PepperAug–Feb
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)Aug–Feb
- Cayenne PepperAug–Feb
Carolina Reaper is the red, wrinkled superhot with a pointed tail, bred in South Carolina by Ed Currie of PuckerButt Pepper Company. It once held the Guinness record for the hottest pepper, at 1.64 million Scoville units.
How Carolina Reaper pepper fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Carolina Reaper Pepper planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b 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 14–Mar 21 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | Oct 6–Oct 13 |
| 4a & 4b | Feb 27–Mar 6 | May 29–Jun 5 | Sep 21–Sep 28 |
| 5a & 5b | Feb 22–Mar 1 | May 24–May 31 | Sep 16–Sep 23 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 7–Feb 14 | May 9–May 16 | Sep 1–Sep 8 |
| 7a & 7b | Jan 23–Jan 30 | Apr 24–May 1 | Aug 17–Aug 24 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 7–Jan 14 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Aug 1–Aug 8 |
| 9a & 9b | Nov 30–Dec 7 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | Jun 24–Jul 1 |
| 10a & 10bSummer window | May–Jul | Aug–Sep | ~115 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bSummer window (your zone) | May–Nov | Aug–Feb | ~115 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 115 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. (usually zones 3-10, so not a pairing for zone 11b)
Where to buy Carolina Reaper pepper seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries Carolina Reaper pepper seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing Carolina Reaper pepper" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Carolina Reaper Pepper in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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