Home › Chili Pepper › Grow in Texas

Can You Grow Chili Pepper in Texas?

US · USDA Zone 8a · zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Grows well here

Chili peppers thrive here — expect a productive harvest through the warm months.

Plant zones

4a–11b

Texas last frost

mid-February

Texas first frost

early December

Days to harvest

65–80 days

When to plant Chili Peppers in Texas

Start indoors

Jan 1

Transplant

Feb 15

Harvest

Apr 21 – May 6

Dates are approximate, based on Texas's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Chili Pepper

Chili peppers are drought-tolerant once established and highly productive in warm sunny conditions.

Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Chilies love heat — the hotter the summer the hotter the pepper. Great for containers on south-facing balconies.

Full chili pepper growing guide →

Gardening in Texas

Texas spans more climate zones than any state except California — from Zone 6 in the Texas Panhandle to Zone 9b in the Rio Grande Valley. Most Texans garden in Zone 7-8 with hot long summers.

See what grows well in Texas →

Frequently asked questions

Can you grow Chili Pepper in Texas?

Chili peppers thrive here — expect a productive harvest through the warm months.

What zone is Texas?

Texas spans USDA Zone 8a (5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b).

When do you plant Chili Peppers in Texas?

Plant Chili Peppers around mid-February (start indoors Jan 1), harvest Apr 21 – May 6.