Scotch Bonnet Pepper in Zone 3a & 3b
Capsicum chinense
Yes, Scotch bonnet pepper grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors Mar 21–Mar 28 and plant out Jun 13–Jun 20.
When to plant Scotch bonnet 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 21–Mar 28 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Estimated harvest | Sep 11–Sep 18 (~90 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 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 Scotch bonnet 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
Scotch bonnet is the squat, hat-shaped hot pepper of Caribbean cooking. Baker Creek says the name comes from its resemblance to a tam o'shanter, and that it is essential to Jamaican escovitch. It is *Capsicum chinense*, like habanero.
How Scotch bonnet pepper fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Scotch bonnet pepper needs about 90 days from transplant to first harvest.
Frost risk in zone 3b: Harvest usually starts about 6 days after zone 3b's average first frost (September 5), and Scotch bonnet 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.)
Scotch Bonnet 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 21–Mar 28 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | Sep 11–Sep 18 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 6–Mar 13 | May 29–Jun 5 | Aug 27–Sep 3 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 24–May 31 | Aug 22–Aug 29 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 14–Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | Aug 7–Aug 14 |
| 7a & 7b | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 23–Jul 30 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 14–Jan 21 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jul 7–Jul 14 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 7–Dec 14 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 30–Jun 6 |
| 10a & 10b | Nov 21–Nov 28 | Feb 13–Feb 20 | May 14–May 21 |
| 11a & 11bSummer window | May–Nov | Aug–Feb | ~90 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 90 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 Scotch bonnet pepper seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market (Scotch bonnet pepper seeds)
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing Scotch bonnet 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 Scotch Bonnet Pepper in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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