How to Grow Peppers from Seed

Start pepper seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant seedlings outdoors after soil warms to 65°F for a successful pepper harvest.

Warm Seeds and Watch Them Sprout. Fill seed trays with quality seed-starting mix and plant pepper seeds ¼ inch deep, two seeds per cell. Keep soil consistently moist and place trays in a warm location between 75-85°F. Seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days.
Give Seedlings the Light They Crave. Once seedlings emerge, move them under grow lights or to a sunny south-facing window. Provide 14-16 hours of light daily, keeping grow lights 2-4 inches above seedlings. Rotate trays regularly if using window light to prevent leggy growth.
Choose Winners, Cull the Rest. When seedlings develop their first true leaves, thin to one strong plant per cell by cutting weaker seedlings at soil level. Transplant to individual 4-inch pots when plants have 2-3 sets of true leaves, using regular potting soil.
Toughen Plants for the Garden. Two weeks before transplanting outdoors, begin hardening off by placing plants outside for a few hours daily in a sheltered, shaded spot. Gradually increase outdoor time and sun exposure over 7-10 days until plants can stay out overnight.
Build the Perfect Pepper Home. Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Work compost or aged manure into beds and ensure soil pH is between 6.0-6.8. Create planting holes 18-24 inches apart for proper spacing and air circulation.
Move Seedlings to Open Ground. Wait until nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 55°F and soil temperature reaches 65°F. Plant seedlings at the same depth they were in pots, water thoroughly, and consider using wall-o-water or row covers if temperatures are still marginal.
Support Growth from Root to Fruit. Water consistently, providing about 1 inch per week through deep, infrequent watering. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Stake or cage plants when they reach 12 inches tall to support fruit production.