Around this time of year when we’re all hardening off our plants, we’re constantly checking the forecasts and trying to determine whether our plants are safe outside or not.
In my zone (6a), we’re past the last frost date, but this week we have several days with low temps in the mid-low 40s, including one day where the low is projected to reach 38 (10-day forecast posted for reference) I’ve had my plants hardening off outside in pots for a while now, and honestly they’ve probably already been exposed to similar temps (although on a porch with a roof next to the house), so I was considering putting them in the ground anyway. My thinking is that they would be happier and more insulated in big dirt than in their small pots, and I don’t really want to have to pull everything in and out again all week.
All that said, there is some conventional wisdom that says any exposure to low 40s will permanently stunt peppers and prevent them from growing and producing. I find this idea extremely hard to believe, given that I’ve had plants survive even a light frost late in the season and still finish producing/ripening a bunch of fruit. Additionally, I’ve read anecdotes from other gardeners who say they put their plants in right after last frost and everything does great.
What does /r/HotPeppers say? Is there truth to this idea of permanent stunting, or is this a case of mass gardening hysteria brought on by some overly-cautious growers?
by amopeyzoolion
5 Comments
Zone 7B here. Similar temps. Looks like this year will hopefully end the debate. Peppers and tomatoes went out last weekend.
That wont permanently stunt them- stop watching TiK Tok gardeners. The only way it stunt them if they frost or freeze.
Ive grown hot peppers for over 20 years in zone 5A- and our temps sometimes gets in the upper 30s when they are transplanted into the ground. They wont grow much in cold weather as they prefer warm temps, but once the weather goes to steady warmth- they take off. My pepper plants still get huge and yield highly.
Chili Peppers are called a tolerable weed for a reason- they grow like weeds. People need to stop babying their pepper plants.
Stunt is probably not the right word for what happens. When my plants have gone out early in cooler temps, their growth certainly slows a bit and I often notice they will try to flower, presumably as a mild stress response. This early flowering can certainly take energy from the plant that would otherwise go towards vegetative growth. But once temps get up there and the sun is out longer, they explode in growth same as any year
I’m in 4b. And no. Bc we can be in the 40s at night well into the summer. We usually use Opener Weekend/Mother’s Day as a planting date, although many folks punt until Memorial day. Even so… it can be cold. It’s in the 40s for highs this week, for example.
Plants aren’t as sensitive as people make them out to be. They’ve been around for a real long ass time before us
You’ll be fine. Just make sure they get lots of sunlight as it’ll keep them warmer than ambient