When to plant peppers in Colorado

Peppers
Plant out in Denver
May 18–Jun 1

Across Colorado the window opens between April 28 and May 24. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Denver
Feb 23–Mar 9
Plant out, Denver
May 18–Jun 1
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 26
Last frost, Denver
May 4

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
DenverMay 18–Jun 1
Colorado SpringsMay 17–May 31
AuroraMay 21–Jun 4
Fort CollinsMay 16–May 30
LakewoodMay 17–May 31
ThorntonMay 16–May 30
ArvadaMay 19–Jun 2
WestminsterMay 16–May 30
GreeleyMay 16–May 30
PuebloMay 14–May 28
CentennialMay 19–Jun 2
BoulderMay 20–Jun 3
LongmontMay 21–Jun 4
LovelandMay 24–Jun 7
BroomfieldMay 16–May 30
Commerce CityMay 17–May 31
Grand JunctionApr 28–May 12
LittletonMay 16–May 30
BrightonMay 17–May 31
WindsorMay 17–May 31
ErieMay 21–Jun 4
NorthglennMay 16–May 30
Security-WidefieldMay 17–May 31
EnglewoodMay 16–May 30
Pueblo WestMay 10–May 24
Wheat RidgeMay 19–Jun 2
LafayetteMay 16–May 30
FountainMay 17–May 31
EvansMay 16–May 30
JohnstownMay 24–Jun 7
All 34 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
DenverFeb 23 to Mar 9May 18 to Jun 1May 4
Colorado SpringsFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
AuroraFeb 26 to Mar 12May 21 to Jun 4May 7
Fort CollinsFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
LakewoodFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
ThorntonFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
ArvadaFeb 24 to Mar 10May 19 to Jun 2May 5
WestminsterFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
GreeleyFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
PuebloFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
CentennialFeb 24 to Mar 10May 19 to Jun 2May 5
BoulderFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
LongmontFeb 26 to Mar 12May 21 to Jun 4May 7
LovelandMar 1 to Mar 15May 24 to Jun 7May 10
BroomfieldFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
Commerce CityFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
Grand JunctionFeb 3 to Feb 17Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
LittletonFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
BrightonFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
WindsorFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
ErieFeb 26 to Mar 12May 21 to Jun 4May 7
NorthglennFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
Security-WidefieldFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
EnglewoodFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
Pueblo WestFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
Wheat RidgeFeb 24 to Mar 10May 19 to Jun 2May 5
LafayetteFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
FountainFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
EvansFeb 21 to Mar 7May 16 to May 30May 2
JohnstownMar 1 to Mar 15May 24 to Jun 7May 10
Four Square MileFeb 26 to Mar 12May 21 to Jun 4May 7
MontroseFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
LouisvilleFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
FirestoneFeb 26 to Mar 12May 21 to Jun 4May 7

Questions

When should I plant peppers in Colorado?

In Denver, plant out from May 18 to June 1. Across Colorado the window opens between April 28 and May 24, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Colorado

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Colorado