How-to: Peppers — Rio Ranch

01 Quick spec

Long window (set-out → frost)

18"

In-row spacing

60–90d

Transplant to first pick

North-TX planting window: transplant after the last frost (~Apr 1) — but wait until soil is reliably warm (~mid/late April, 60°F+). Peppers shrug off the summer heat better than tomatoes and keep producing until the first frost (~mid-Nov).

02 Growing it here

A heat-lover built for Texas

Unlike tomatoes, peppers are happy through the worst of the North Texas summer. They may pause fruit-set in the very hottest weeks, then surge again as nights cool. Practically that means one long window: plant once after frost and harvest from June through the mid-Nov frost. A light flush often comes in fall as the heat breaks.

Transplant into warm soil

Start seed indoors 8–10 weeks ahead (Feb) or buy starts. Don't rush them out — cold soil stalls them. Set transplants after ~Apr 1 once soil hits 60°F, spaced 18" apart in rows ~2.5–3' apart. Mulch to hold moisture; cage or stake tall/heavy-fruited types so loaded branches don't snap.

03 The year

Month	What
Feb	Sow indoors under lights (8–10 wks before set-out).
Apr (after ~Apr 1 frost, soil 60°F+)	Transplant; mulch; stake heavy types.
Jun	First harvest begins.
Jul–Aug	Production may pause in peak heat — keep watered and mulched.
Sep–Oct	Big fall flush as nights cool.
mid-Nov	Pick everything before the first frost.

04 Problems & what to watch

Pests & disease

Aphids and spider mites hit stressed plants — keep them watered. Pepper weevil and hornworms show up; hand-pick or treat. Blossom-end rot can appear in fruit just like tomatoes from uneven watering — mulch and water steadily.

Heat

Above ~90°F peppers may drop blossoms and pause fruit-set, and exposed fruit gets sunscald (pale, papery patches). Light shade cloth and steady moisture carry them to the cool fall flush.

05 Harvest & beginner mistakes

Stage	Do this
Green vs ripe	Pick bells green for yield, or leave to color up (red/yellow) for sweetness — your call.
Cutting	Cut, don't pull — tearing breaks the brittle branches.
Frequency	Pick often; regular harvest keeps the plant setting more fruit.

Beginner mistakes to skip: transplanting into cold soil (they just sit and sulk); over-fertilizing with nitrogen (lush leaves, no fruit); letting fruit overload a small unstaked plant; and giving up during the mid-summer pause — the fall flush is the payoff.