Rainline Garden

When to plant peppers in Baker City, OR

Start peppers from seed indoors Mar 16–30, then plant the young plants in the garden in Baker City May 25 – Jun 15.

Tricky here Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Baker City's typical last spring frost is May 25. Frost kills peppers, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around May 25. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Tricky here
Sun
Full sun; against a warm wall if possible
Spacing
18 inches apart
Planting depth
Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
Frost
Killed by frost
First harvest
About 75 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Start seeds indoors Mar 16–30 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden May 25 – Jun 15, 18 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Harvest: Pick green any time once full size, or leave them to ripen red, which can take three more weeks.

Varieties that do well here

  • Gypsy
  • Ace
  • Early Jalapeño
  • Lunchbox snacking peppers

Watch out for

Cool nights stall growth. Black plastic mulch and row cover early in the season make a big difference here.

Even more heat-hungry than tomatoes. A warm wall or black plastic mulch helps.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Baker City, OR?

Typically May 25. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 16. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Baker City Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant peppers in Baker City?

The spring planting window runs through June 15. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 15.

When should I start peppers from seed indoors in Baker City?

March 16 to March 30, which is 10 to 8 weeks before the May 25 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Baker City around the same time

Planting dates for peppers in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Baker City · Peppers in every city