Zone 10 · Peppers Growing Guide

When to Plant Bell Pepper
in Zone 10

Sweet peppers that start green and ripen to red, yellow, or orange. Need warmth and patience — green peppers are just unripe coloured peppers.

Plant outdoors
Feb 1 – Mar 1
Start indoors
Dec 1 – Jan 1
Last Frost
~Jan 15
Days to harvest
70–85 days
Difficulty
Medium
Ready to harvest — Zone 10
Harvest window: Apr – Dec

Planting Calendar

In Zone 10, Bell Pepper should be planted outdoors Feb 1 – Mar 1, after the average last frost date of approximately Jan 15. Start seeds indoors around Dec 1 – Jan 1 for a head start.

Near year-round production. Perennial in frost-free areas — overwintered plants produce heavily.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
18–24 inches
Soil
Well-draining, fertile loam
Days to maturity
70–85 days
Soil pH
6.0–6.8
plant tip · Zone 10

Near year-round production. Perennial in frost-free areas — overwintered plants produce heavily.

Feeding Schedule

How often
every 2 weeks
Feed type
tomato feed (high potassium)
Key timing
start when first flowers appear

Similar to tomatoes. High nitrogen early encourages leafy growth; switch to high-potassium at flowering.

Companion Planting for Bell Pepper

What you plant next to bell pepper makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Basil
  • Carrots
  • Spinach
  • Tomatoes
Keep away from
  • Fennel
  • Brassicas
  • Apricots

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Common questions

In Zone 10, start bell pepper seeds indoors around Dec 1 – Jan 1, then transplant outdoors Feb 1 – Mar 1 after your last frost around Jan 15. Near year-round production. Perennial in frost-free areas — overwintered plants produce heavily.
Zone 10 has an average last spring frost of approximately Jan 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 31. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for bell pepper include Basil, Carrots, Spinach, Tomatoes. Avoid planting near Fennel, Brassicas, Apricots, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Bell Pepper typically takes 70–85 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 10. Expected harvest window: Apr – Dec.

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Bell Pepper in other zones
Crop Guides