12 seeds
Matures in 80 days
Companion planting: Basil, Coriander, Beans, Onion, Parsley, Tomatoes
The Cayenne Pepper plant produces thin, twisted, and very hot fruits measuring up to 6 inches long. When young, they are green but turn orange when mature.
Eight weeks before the last expected ground frost, sow your seeds indoors at a depth of ¼ inch and maintain the room temperature at 25–30°C (60-65°F). Provide them with supplemental light to prevent the plants from becoming leggy. When all risk of ground frost is eliminated, acclimate your plants for a few days and plant them in the garden at a distance of 12 to 16 inches apart. Pepper plants appreciate rich, moist, and weed-free soil; provide them with mulch to help with better control.
Peppers generally have a stronger flavor if they ripen for a longer time on the plant. However, ripe peppers signal the plant to stop production. Harvest the green ones to ensure a longer vegetable production.
During harvest, cut the stem with scissors to avoid breaking the plant's fragile stem. Protect your hands and eyes when handling peppers; they can cause a burning sensation!