Carolina Reaper Pepper in Zone 6a & 6b
Capsicum chinense
Yes, Carolina Reaper pepper grows in zones 6a and 6b. Start seeds indoors Feb 7–Feb 14 and plant out May 9–May 16.
When to plant Carolina Reaper pepper in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b 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 7–Feb 14 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 9–May 16 |
| Estimated harvest | Sep 1–Sep 8 (~115 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 6b
These go outside within two weeks of Carolina Reaper pepper in zone 6b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Bell PepperMay 9–May 16
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)May 9–May 16
- 7 Pot Primo PepperMay 9–May 16
- Aji Amarillo PepperMay 9–May 16
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)May 9–May 16
- Cayenne PepperMay 9–May 16
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 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. Carolina Reaper pepper needs about 115 days from transplant to first harvest.
Carolina Reaper Pepper planting windows in every zone
Zone 6b 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 | 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 (your zone) | 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 →
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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)
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Growing Carolina Reaper Pepper in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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