Cayenne Pepper Plant Grow Guide: How to Grow Cayenne Peppers

Cayenne peppers are red hot peppers that gardeners harvest for their spicy and flavorful qualities. Cayenne pepper is a cultivar of the Capsicum annuum plant species (from the same family as jalapeños, serrano peppers, and bell peppers) and a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The mature form of the cayenne plant yields long, waxy-skinned red peppers with green stems. Green cayenne peppers are the immature fruit of the plant and are less spicy in flavor than mature red peppers. This pepper gets its name from Cayenne, its city of origin, located in the South American country of French Guiana.

Cayenne peppers contain capsaicin, a natural extract that makes them spicy, whether you consume them raw or cooked. The primary flavor of cayenne is a hot, fiery sensation on the taste buds accompanied by little to no aroma. The heat range of cayenne can range significantly, from 5,000 to 50,000 units on the Scoville scale, which measures the amount of capsaicin contained in different peppers. The powdered form of cayenne pepper is a popular spice that can lend extra heat to many dishes—from chili to tacos.

Cayenne peppers grow to about six inches long at maturity. They are thinner peppers, with only about half an inch in diameter. However, the entire cayenne pepper plant can grow up to four feet tall, sprouting glossy green leaves that are one to three inches in length and width, and flowering petal blooms of white to lavender.

Direct-sow seeds into your garden soil about two weeks before the spring’s last frost date if you’re planting cayenne pepper outside. Otherwise, start your cayenne pepper seeds indoors a few weeks after the last danger of frost has passed, when daytime and soil temperatures reach at least sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that their ideal germination temperature is above seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit.

Cayenne peppers are warm-weather plants that prefer tropical environments, but they can grow in various climates ranging from USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 11. The peppers don’t tolerate extreme heat or cold, meaning that growers in cooler zones may only grow them as annuals. In the right environment, you can plant cayenne peppers outdoors in the spring, and they can produce fruit by summer.

Cayenne peppers are easy to grow and maintain. Follow this guide to grow your cayenne peppers in your home garden:

1. 1. Obtain your pepper seeds. You can harvest cayenne pepper seeds directly from the inside of fresh cayenne pepper from the grocery store or buy previously-dried seeds from your local garden center. Wear a pair of protective gloves to avoid burning your skin with hot pepper juice if you’re harvesting your own fresh cayenne pepper seeds. Soak pepper seeds in a bowl of lukewarm water for a few days before planting to improve the chances of germination.
2. 2. Start your seeds indoors (optional). You may need to start your cayenne seeds indoors with a potting mix if you live in a cool climate. Plant your seeds in small individual pots, flats, or growing trays filled with potting soil, with a few seeds per cell or container. Moisten and cover the tray or container with plastic wrap and place it in a warm and sunny window to help your seeds sprout.
3. 3. Harden off the seeds. Cayenne pepper seedlings are especially susceptible to transplant shock, so you will also need to harden them off gradually before transplanting them in your yard. If you can establish the right growing conditions for your cayenne pepper outdoors, continue to grow them outdoors in their containers and simply move them inside when the temperature drops. Keep in mind that they will still need access to full sun and heat when moving them indoors.
4. 4. Prepare your planting spot. Sow seeds directly into your garden soil outside if you live in a climate with long springs and summers. Choose a sunny spot that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day.
5. 5. Make your planting holes. Use your finger to make holes that are about one-quarter of an inch deep in your soil. Plant your seeds in the holes and backfill them with soil, then water them thoroughly. Your seeds should germinate quickly if the soil temperature remains between seventy-five and eighty degrees Fahrenheit.

Cayenne pepper plants are relatively low maintenance. Here’s how to care for your plants:

1. 1. Avoid overwatering: Monitor your cayenne pepper plants as they grow. Water them when you notice that the top inch of soil becomes dry. Apply black plastic mulch or organic matter around your plant’s root system to help suppress weeds and maintain moist soil. Yellow leaves may be a sign that your plant is not receiving enough water.
2. 2. Prune as necessary: Monitor your plant for any dead or diseased branches, stems, leaves, or peppers that have become soft and mushy. Use a sterile pair of shears to prune these pieces off your plant as soon as you notice them. They can spread disease to other parts of the plant.
3. 3. Check for pests and diseases: Cayenne peppers are susceptible to aphids, slugs, mites, thrips, root-knot nematodes, and leaf blight. Spray your plant with a garden hose or an organic insecticide if you notice leaf spots or any errant pests crawling on your plant.

Cayenne peppers have a long growing season, which means that they will be ready to harvest anywhere between seventy and one hundred days after you plant them. Cayenne peppers are green and then mature to a bright red color, though they are edible in both forms.

The ideal time to pick cayenne peppers depends on the type of flavor you want: Green cayenne peppers are more acidic and grassy tasting, and fully red cayenne peppers are spicier, more flavorful, and best to use in sauces and salsa. Otherwise, you can pick your peppers once they’ve begun to turn red and ripen them yourself by placing them in a sunny location for a few days.

Snip your cayenne peppers off the plant stem using a pair of sterile gardening shears rather than pulling the peppers off of the plant. Removing the stem with shears will help you avoid damaging the rest of the plant. The leaves of the cayenne pepper plant are also edible: You can snip them from the mature plant using a clean pair of shears or garden scissors.

Store harvested peppers in a plastic bag and place them inside the refrigerator to use within a few days. You can also freeze them in an airtight container for six to eight months.

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