Arizona · zones 5b–10a
When to plant bell peppers in Arizona.
Sow or transplant between Feb 21 to Apr 14 in a typical year, keyed to Arizona's median last frost around Feb 5. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Bell Peppers dates for a typical Arizona season.
1 · Start indoors
Jan 10 to Mar 3
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Feb 21 to Apr 14
Keyed to the ~Feb 5 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 18" apart.
Harvest
~70 days later
~4 lb per plant over ~8 weeks.
Arizona spans more than one climate: Zone 9 is the most common zone, but the state runs 5b to 10a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Arizona: watch for
The pests that find bell peppers here.
With about 283 frost-free days, pepper, bell spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which aphids can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Clusters on new growth, sticky leaves, curling tips. Green peach aphid spreads virus.
Organic fix: Blast with water, then insecticidal soap or neem.
Bacterial leaf spot
Small water-soaked spots that turn brown; badly spotted leaves drop.
Organic fix: Plant resistant varieties, avoid overhead watering, rotate out of nightshades.
Plant wilts and collapses at the soil line after a bed stays soggy.
Organic fix: Plant on raised ground for drainage; remove collapsed plants and do not replant there.
Tiny shot-hole pits peppering young leaves.
Organic fix: Row cover the seedlings; healthy transplants outgrow the damage.
Your season math: Arizona gives bell peppers about 283 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 70 days to a first harvest. It's a one-planting crop, so time that single sowing well.
Planting bell peppers in Arizona: questions
When should I plant bell peppers in Arizona?+
In a typical Arizona year, sow bell peppers or set out transplants between Feb 21 to Apr 14, keyed to the state's median last frost around Feb 5. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start bell peppers seeds indoors in Arizona?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Jan 10 to Mar 3 for a typical Arizona season.
What USDA zone is Arizona?+
Arizona spans zones 5b–10a, mostly zone 9. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many bell peppers plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.