When to Plant Bell Pepper in Fresno, California (93708)

Location

Fresno, California

ZIP Code

93708

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Transplant Outdoors

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Based on last frost Tuesday, February 10, 2026 · Zone 9b

Pro tip: Start Bell Pepper seeds indoors 10 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

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🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Capsicum annuum

Days to Maturity 70 days

Mature Height 18-24"

Spread 18"

Type Bush

Fruit Size Medium (4-6 oz)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6-8 hours)

💧

Water

Regular (1-2 inches/week)

↔️

Spacing

18" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.25" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 8-14 days

Ready to Plant Bell Pepper in Fresno?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

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🤝 Good Companions

TomatoBasilCarrotOnionParsley

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

FennelKohlrabiBrassicas

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Bell Pepper

See which plants help Bell Pepper thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Bell Pepper Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

California Wonder

heirloom 75d

The quintessential green bell pepper — thick-walled, blocky, and widely adaptable.

Red Beauty

hybrid 70d

Sweet red bell that matures earlier than most, with thick, crisp walls.

Orange Sun

hybrid 80d

Brilliant orange bell with high vitamin C content and fruity, mild sweetness.

Purple Beauty

open-pollinated 70d

Striking purple-green bell that matures to red; a unique conversation piece.

Golden Treasure

open-pollinated 80d

Long, tapered golden sweet pepper — great for roasting and stuffing.

Common Bell Pepper Problems

What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.

🐛

Pests

Aphids

Dense colonies on new growth cause curling leaves and sticky honeydew; attract sooty mold.

Fix:

Blast with water; apply insecticidal soap; plant marigolds as companion plants.

European Corn Borer

Larvae bore into pepper stems and fruit, leaving entry holes and frass.

Fix:

Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at first egg hatch; destroy affected fruit.

Pepper Weevil

Small black weevils lay eggs in developing fruit, causing premature drop.

Fix:

Inspect and destroy dropped fruit; use row covers early season; pyrethrin as a last resort.

🍂

Diseases

Phytophthora Blight

Water-soaked lesions that spread rapidly in warm, wet soils causing root and stem collapse.

Fix:

Improve drainage; avoid overhead irrigation; rotate crops; plant in raised beds.

Anthracnose

Circular, sunken lesions with orange spore masses on ripe fruit, especially in wet summers.

Fix:

Harvest promptly; avoid wetting fruit; apply copper fungicide preventively in humid areas.

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Small, water-soaked spots that turn brown and cause defoliation in wet conditions.

Fix:

Use certified disease-free seed; apply copper sprays; avoid working in the garden when plants are wet.

💡

Common Mistakes

Starting too late indoors

Peppers need 8–10 weeks indoors; late starters won't produce well in short seasons.

Fix:

Start seeds 10–12 weeks before last frost; use a heat mat to hit 80–85°F soil temp for germination.

Harvesting green when you want red

All bell peppers start green; patience yields sweeter, more nutritious colored fruit.

Fix:

Leave fruit on the plant 2–3 extra weeks after it reaches full size for color to develop.

Cold nights stalling fruit set

Peppers drop blossoms when nights dip below 55°F — no amount of fertilizer fixes this.

Fix:

Don't transplant until nights are reliably above 55°F; use row cover for brief cool snaps.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟡 Moderate

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Let peppers ripen fully past the red stage — slightly overripe peppers have the most viable seeds.

Processing

Scoop seeds from ripe pepper, spread on screen and dry for 1–2 weeks.

Seed Viability

Up to 2 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Peppers cross easily with hot peppers. Isolate by 300 feet or cage flowers to keep varieties pure.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 14 plants of Bell Pepper. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bell Pepper in Fresno, California? +

In Fresno (Zone 9b), start Bell Pepper seeds indoors around Tuesday, December 2, 2025 and transplant outdoors around Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Fresno, California? +

The average last spring frost date for Fresno, California (ZIP 93708) is around Tuesday, February 10, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 9b.

How long does Bell Pepper take to grow? +

Bell Pepper typically matures in about 70 days from transplanting. In Fresno, that means you can expect harvest around Tuesday, February 24, 2026 plus 70 days.

Should I start Bell Pepper indoors or direct sow in California? +

Bell Pepper should be started indoors 10 weeks before your last frost date. In Fresno, that means starting around Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

📚 More Bell Pepper Planting Guides

🗺️

Bell Pepper in California

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 9b Bell Pepper Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

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Growing Bell Pepper in Zone 9b

Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a popular garden vegetable. In Fresno, California, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b, you should start seeds indoors around Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

Your average last frost date is Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Plan to transplant your Bell Pepper seedlings outdoors around Tuesday, February 24, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.