How to Grow and Care for Cayenne Peppers

Cayenne pepper is a nightshade plant grown as a cultivar of Capsicum annuum, which is also common to other pepper varieties, like bell peppers, serrano peppers, and jalapeños. Cayenne peppers are medium-heat pepper, measuring 30,000 to 50,000 on the Scoville hotness scale. The peppers measure 4 to 6 inches long and have a tapering shape with a curved tip. They are most commonly a glossy red with a slightly wrinkled texture.

Cayenne pepper plants are bushy, growing up to 2 feet tall, with smooth elliptical green leaves and small white star-shaped flowers. They should be planted in the spring and grow reasonably quickly. Cayenne plants are heat-loving, full-sun worshiping, frost-tender perennials commonly grown as annuals in cold climates.

Although people eat cayenne peppers, all parts of the plant are mildly toxic to people due to capsaicin compounds in the plant.

How to Plant Cayenne Peppers

When to Plant

Plant your cayenne peppers in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. Seeds can be started indoors approximately eight to 10 weeks before your area’s projected last spring frost date. It’s best if the temperature is reliably above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Selecting a Planting Site

Pick a sunny spot with well-drained soil for your peppers. Make sure they won't be near any larger plants that will leaf out and shade them. Also, select a location that hasn't been used by other nightshade members of the Solanaceae family, such as tomatoes or potatoes, in several years. Diseases that target the family can linger in the soil. Container growth is also an option if you don't have a suitable garden site.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

Space plants around 1 to 2 feet apart. Seeds should be planted around 1/4 inch deep, and nursery plants should be situated at the same depth they grew in their nursery container. Varieties producing a lot of peppers might need stakes or another support structure to prevent them from toppling over once the fruits appear.

Cayenne Pepper Plant Care

Light

This plant does best when exposed to full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. Too little sun can result in limited flower and fruit production.

Soil

Cayenne pepper plants require organically rich, moist, well-drained soil. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is best. More acidic soil can produce peppers that are spicier than normal.

Water

Watering cayenne pepper plants can be a delicate process. They do require moist soil, but overwatering is a problem too. If the soil becomes too dry or saturated, the foliage can turn yellow, and the plant can struggle. Give your plant a deep watering when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil have dried out. Mulching around the plant can be a helpful way to conserve moisture.

Temperature and Humidity

The cayenne pepper plant is a warm-weather species native to tropical regions, and it requires consistently warm temperatures and moderate humidity. It cannot withstand extremes in temperatures, either heat or cold.

Temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit will result in slow growth and leaf discoloration. Temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit will damage or kill the plants, and nighttime temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit can impact pepper production.

Fertilizer

It’s ideal to mix compost into the soil when planting, especially if you don’t have organically rich soil. You also can use an organic commercial vegetable fertilizer that’s low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus. For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions. Too much nitrogen can promote more foliage than fruit growth.

Pollination

Cayenne pepper plants are self-pollinating, assisted by wind and insects in the garden. They also can cross-pollinate with other pepper varieties.

Types of Cayenne Peppers

Breeders have created different cayenne pepper varieties that range in appearance and taste, including:

• Red Ember: The plants of this variety produce heavy yields of especially large peppers.
• Dragon: As the name suggests, these peppers are large and hot.
• Sweet Cayenne: This is a milder pepper that works well in a variety of recipes.
• Purple Cayenne: These peppers transition from green to purple as they mature, though their flavor resembles a typical red cayenne pepper. 

Cayenne Peppers vs. Jalapeños

Cayenne and jalapeño peppers are varieties of the same species. Consequently, they have similar growing requirements. But it’s fairly simple to tell them apart. Cayenne peppers are usually red and narrower than the typical green, thicker jalapeño. Cayenne peppers are about 10 times hotter than jalapeños.

Harvesting Cayenne Peppers

• When to harvest: Cayenne peppers are usually ready to harvest anywhere from 70 to 100 days after planting. Ripe peppers will generally be red, grow between 4 to 6 inches long (depending on the variety), have waxy skin, and are firm to the touch. Soft, overripe specimens won't be edible. You can eat the peppers while still green; they won't have such an intense or developed flavor. Some green peppers about to turn red may turn red after picking.
• How to harvest: Although peppers can be pulled from the stem to harvest, pruners are recommended to prevent damaging the whole stem. Leave just a little bit of stem on each pepper.
• How to store: Peppers will keep in the refrigerator for about a week and can be frozen for up to a year. You can also dry and grind them into powder for seasoning.

How to Grow Cayenne Peppers in Pots

Growing cayenne peppers in pots can be a helpful way to control the plant’s light and soil requirements. Also, you can move the plant indoors if you’re expecting a cold snap.

A 2-gallon to 5-gallon plastic container should be a good size for a single plant. Make sure it has adequate drainage holes. Unglazed clay is a better container material, as it will allow excess soil moisture to evaporate through its walls.

Pruning

If you’re growing your cayenne pepper plant as an annual, pruning generally won’t be necessary. Just be sure to trim off any damaged or diseased stems promptly. However, if you’re growing a perennial plant, cut it back to around 6 inches above the soil in the fall. This will help to promote healthy, bushy new growth in the spring.

Propagating Cayenne Peppers

You can propagate cayenne pepper plants through stem cuttings. Not only is this an inexpensive way to get a new plant, but it also will allow you to create duplicates of plants with especially good flavor or production. The best time to take a cutting is in the late spring or early summer. Here's how:

1. You'll need sterilized pruners, rooting hormone, a small container, and moistened potting mix to get started.
2. Use sterile pruners to trim off a healthy piece of stem around 4 to 6 inches long, cutting at a 45-degree angle above a leaf node. Remove any leaves on the lower half of the stem. 
3. Dip the cut end in the rooting hormone. 
4. Plant the lower half of the cutting in a small container filled with moist soilless potting mix. 
5. Put the container in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. Continue to keep the potting mix moist but not soggy.
6. Roots should form in a couple of weeks. If you gently tug on the stem and feel resistance, you'll know roots are present. After that, harden off the plant, and the cutting is ready for transplanting.

How to Grow Cayenne Peppers From Seed

Cayenne pepper seeds germinate best when the soil is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. In cooler climates, that often means starting them in containers indoors to get a jump on the growing season. Here's how to sow seeds:

1. Slightly press the seeds into a container filled with moist seed-starting mix.
2. Put the container in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. Consider using a heat mat to keep the soil at approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Keep the potting mix moist but never waterlogged.
4. Germination should occur in about two to three weeks, though some varieties can take longer. 

Potting and Repotting Cayenne Peppers

Use a quality organic vegetable potting mix for potting cayenne peppers. Make sure it is organically rich and well-draining.

If you're growing your plant as an annual, you shouldn't need to repot it as long as you've picked a container that will accommodate its mature size. Perennial plants also shouldn't outgrow the container that fits their mature size. Refresh its potting mix every year or two.

Overwintering

If you’re growing your plant as an annual, remove it from your garden after frost has damaged or killed it. Prune perennials close to the ground, and cut back on water for the winter. The soil shouldn’t fully dry out but doesn’t need to be consistently moist. 

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Pests that are problematic for other nightshade family members (such as tomatoes) can also afflict cayenne peppers. They include aphids, mites, pepper hornworms, pill bugs, and leafminers. These can be removed by spraying them with a garden hose spray or using natural insecticidal soap. 

Fungal diseases, including leaf spot, fusarium wilt, and anthracnose, also can occasionally be a problem, especially in humid conditions. Proper spacing, good soil drainage, and watering at the plant base can help minimize the chances of disease.