Photo: "Chili Cayenne" by Maja Dumat · CC BY 2.0

Pepper · Hot-drying

Cayenne Peppers

Open-pollinated · Solanaceae

THE drying/powder pepper. Thin-walled pencil-thin fruit (4-6 inches) dries readily on a string or in dehydrator. Upright 18-30 inch plants with ornamental appeal. 30,000-50,000 SHU = serious heat (6-15× jalapeño). Foundation of Creole/Cajun cuisine, hot sauces, and medicinal preparations. Not suitable for stuffing. Open-pollinated.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

85–95 days

Sun

6+ hours

8+ hours

Spacing

12–18 "

Seed Start

8–10 weeks

before transplant

Container

Yes

3+ gallon pot

Height

1.5–2.5 ft

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 7–21 days

Optimal Temp 85°F

Seed Depth 0.25"

Transplanting

Min Soil Temp 65°F

Harden Off 10 days

Watering

Weekly Water 1–1.5 "

Needs Consistent-moderate

Method Drip or base watering

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Soil Type Well-draining

Resilience

Heat: Moderate Cold: Very-low Drought: Medium

Common Problems

blossom-drop

Cause: Standard pepper thresholds.

Prevention: Standard management.

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Recommended Recipes Root drench

Harvest

Red: fully red, 4-6 inches, pencil-thin, slightly wrinkled. For drying, harvest at full red.

Expected Yield 1–3 lbs/plant

Storage 14 days — Crisper drawer.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Genovese basil Repels aphids

French marigold Repels nematodes

Avoid Planting Near

Herb fennel Inhibits most plants

Sources

seed_catalog Multiple catalogs reference NMSU Chile Pepper Institute

More Peppers

Cayenne Peppers Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Cayenne Peppers vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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