Dorset Naga Pepper in Zone 5a & 5b
Capsicum chinense
Yes, Dorset Naga pepper grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 1 and plant out May 24–May 31.
When to plant Dorset Naga pepper in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 | Feb 22–Mar 1 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 24–May 31 |
| Estimated harvest | Aug 27–Sep 3 (~95 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of Dorset Naga pepper in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Bell PepperMay 24–May 31
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)May 24–May 31
- 7 Pot Primo PepperMay 24–May 31
- Aji Amarillo PepperMay 24–May 31
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)May 24–May 31
- Carolina Reaper PepperMay 24–May 31
Dorset Naga was selected by Joy and Michael Michaud of Sea Spring Seeds in Dorset, England, from the best pods of a Naga Morich plant. Sea Spring holds the plant variety rights, so legitimate seed traces back to them.
How Dorset Naga pepper fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Dorset Naga pepper needs about 95 days from transplant to first harvest.
Dorset Naga Pepper planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b 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 | Sep 16–Sep 23 |
| 4a & 4b | Feb 27–Mar 6 | May 29–Jun 5 | Sep 1–Sep 8 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | 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 Dorset Naga pepper seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries Dorset Naga 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 Dorset Naga pepper" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Dorset Naga Pepper in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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