When to Start Pepper Seeds Indoors in Minnesota Zone 4-5
Whether you’re growing sweet bell peppers or hot varieties like jalapeno, cayenne, or habanero, you will need a lot of grow time before your pepper plants produces fruit. Because of this, experts strongly urge you to start your pepper seeds indoors to get a jump on our short Minnesota growing season.
When to Start Pepper Seedlings Indoors in Zone 4 – 5?
Most peppers, including banana peppers, sweet bell peppers, jalepeno, and most hot peppers should be started indoors about eight weeks before your last frost date. This is about two weeks sooner than you would start tomato seeds.
For most Minnesota gardeners this means you should start pepper seeds sometime at the end of March. For Washington County, MN, this usually means you want to start pepper seeds around March 20.
Pepper seeds started earlier than March 20 may be more difficult to harden off and transplant, and will spend more energy flowering at a time that they should be establishing a deeper root system outdoors.
Tips on Starting Pepper Seeds Indoors
- Plant seeds about a quarter inch deep and keep constantly moist until germination.
- Pepper seeds germinate best at warm temperatures (80F – 90F). Use a germination heating mat if you have one. If you don’t, place your seed tray on a warm (but not hot) surface, such as the top of a refrigerator. Keep in mind your seeds don’t need any light until after they germinate. Move under lights as soon as you see one seedling emerge.
- Pepper seedlings grow best under a grow light as it is difficult to provide enough light to prevent pepper seedlings from becoming leggy just with Minnesota’s April sunlight coming in most windows.
- As you get close to transplant time, it’s likely your pepper seedlings will begin to flower. Pinch off any buds until it’s almost time to transplant. When transplanting you will ideally have buds but not open flowers on your plants.