California · zones 7a–10b
When to plant bell peppers in California.
Sow or transplant between Jan 30 to Mar 23 in a typical year, keyed to California's median last frost around Jan 14. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Bell Peppers dates for a typical California season.
1 · Start indoors
Dec 19 to Feb 9
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Jan 30 to Mar 23
Keyed to the ~Jan 14 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 18" apart.
Harvest
~70 days later
~4 lb per plant over ~8 weeks.
California spans more than one climate: Zone 10 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 10b. 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 California: watch for
The pests that find bell peppers here.
With about 334 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: California gives bell peppers about 334 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 California: questions
When should I plant bell peppers in California?+
In a typical California year, sow bell peppers or set out transplants between Jan 30 to Mar 23, keyed to the state's median last frost around Jan 14. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start bell peppers seeds indoors in California?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Dec 19 to Feb 9 for a typical California season.
What USDA zone is California?+
California spans zones 7a–10b, mostly zone 10. 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.