Carolina Reaper Pepper in Zone 3a & 3b
Capsicum chinense
Carolina Reaper pepper can grow in zones 3a and 3b, but its usual harvest starts after the average first frost, so it takes an early variety and frost protection. Start seeds indoors Mar 14–Mar 21 and plant out Jun 13–Jun 20.
When to plant Carolina Reaper 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 | Oct 6–Oct 13 (~115 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-5 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 Carolina Reaper 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
- Cayenne PepperJun 13–Jun 20
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 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Carolina Reaper pepper needs about 115 days from transplant to first harvest.
Frost risk in zone 3b: Harvest usually starts about 31 days after zone 3b's average first frost (September 5), and Carolina Reaper pepper is damaged by even a light frost. Expect frost to arrive first in most years unless you choose the fastest-maturing variety you can find, start it as early as the dates above allow, and cover plants on cold nights. (Frost tolerance and protection advice: Purdue Extension.)
Carolina Reaper 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 | 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 | 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.
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 →
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 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 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Carolina Reaper Pepper in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest