Bell Pepper in Zone 3a & 3b
Capsicum annuum
Yes, bell pepper grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 11 and plant out Jun 13–Jun 20.
When to plant bell pepper in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b 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 | Apr 4–Apr 11 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Estimated harvest | Aug 27–Sep 3 (~75 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-3 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of bell pepper in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)Jun 13–Jun 20
- 7 Pot Primo PepperJun 13–Jun 20
- Aji Amarillo PepperJun 13–Jun 20
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)Jun 13–Jun 20
- Carolina Reaper PepperJun 13–Jun 20
- Cayenne PepperJun 13–Jun 20
Bell peppers are the blocky sweet peppers most people picture first. This profile covers the care every pepper shares; the other varieties, from cubanelle and shishito to habanero and rocoto, each have their own profile under Peppers on the plant list, with their own heat, timing and plant size.
How bell pepper fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Bell pepper needs about 75 days from transplant to first harvest.
Bell Pepper planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b 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 (your zone) | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | Aug 27–Sep 3 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 20–Mar 27 | May 29–Jun 5 | Aug 12–Aug 19 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 15–Mar 22 | May 24–May 31 | Aug 7–Aug 14 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 23–Jul 30 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 13–Feb 20 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 8–Jul 15 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jun 22–Jun 29 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 21–Dec 28 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 15–May 22 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Dec–Feb | Feb–Apr | ~75 days after transplanting |
| Summer window | May–Jul | Jul–Sep | ~75 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bSummer window | Jun–Dec | Aug–Feb | ~75 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 75 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 bell pepper seeds
Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's bell pepper seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Flavorburst (F1): A true bell that starts lime green and ripens to golden yellow, bred by Johnny's for sweet flavor at that yellow stage rather than the more common green-to-red progression. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- 'California Wonder' (best for saving your own seed): An older open-pollinated bell that, as a 2019 University of Georgia trial put it, remains popular particularly among amateur growers. Buy: Botanical Interests · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing bell pepper" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Bell Pepper in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest