Georgia · zones 7b9a

When to plant bell peppers in Georgia.

Sow or transplant between Apr 5 to May 27 in a typical year, keyed to Georgia's median last frost around Mar 20. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.

The 2026 windows

Bell Peppers dates for a typical Georgia season.

1 · Start indoors

Feb 22 to Apr 15

About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.

2 · Set out

Apr 5 to May 27

Keyed to the ~Mar 20 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 18" apart.

Harvest

~70 days later

~4 lb per plant over ~8 weeks.

Georgia spans more than one climate: Zone 8 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7b to 9a. 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 Georgia: watch for

The pests that find bell peppers here.

A middle-length season, about 235 frost-free days, means pepper, bell overlaps aphids for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.

Aphids

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.

Phytophthora blight

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.

Flea beetles

Tiny shot-hole pits peppering young leaves.

Organic fix: Row cover the seedlings; healthy transplants outgrow the damage.

Your season math: Georgia gives bell peppers about 235 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 Georgia: questions

When should I plant bell peppers in Georgia?+

In a typical Georgia year, sow bell peppers or set out transplants between Apr 5 to May 27, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 20. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.

When do I start bell peppers seeds indoors in Georgia?+

Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Feb 22 to Apr 15 for a typical Georgia season.

What USDA zone is Georgia?+

Georgia spans zones 7b–9a, mostly zone 8. 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.