Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper in Zone 3a & 3b
Capsicum chinense
Yes, Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors Mar 14–Mar 21 and plant out Jun 13–Jun 20.
When to plant Trinidad Scorpion Butch T 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 | Mar 14–Mar 21 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Estimated harvest | Sep 16–Sep 23 (~95 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2.5-3 ft.
Before you plant: Zone 3b's first fall frost usually comes close to or before the harvest. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Bell PepperJun 13–Jun 20
- 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
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T is a strain of the Trinidad Scorpion, with the same bumpy pods and pointed tail as the other scorpion types.
How Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper needs about 95 days from transplant to first harvest.
Frost risk in zone 3b: Harvest usually starts about 11 days after zone 3b's average first frost (September 5), and Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper is damaged by even a light frost. It's close: an average date means frost comes earlier about half the time, so pick a faster-maturing variety if you can and be ready to cover plants on cold nights. (Frost tolerance and protection advice: Purdue Extension.)
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T 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) | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | Sep 16–Sep 23 |
| 4a & 4b | Feb 27–Mar 6 | May 29–Jun 5 | Sep 1–Sep 8 |
| 5a & 5b | Feb 22–Mar 1 | May 24–May 31 | Aug 27–Sep 3 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 7–Feb 14 | May 9–May 16 | Aug 12–Aug 19 |
| 7a & 7b | Jan 23–Jan 30 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 28–Aug 4 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 7–Jan 14 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jul 12–Jul 19 |
| 9a & 9b | Nov 30–Dec 7 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | Jun 4–Jun 11 |
| 10a & 10bSummer window | May–Jul | Aug–Sep | ~95 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bSummer window | May–Nov | Aug–Feb | ~95 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 95 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 Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries Trinidad Scorpion Butch T 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 Trinidad Scorpion Butch T 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 →
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Growing Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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