The Right Way to Grow Cayenne Peppers for Huge, Flavorful Harvests

Cayenne pepper is a heat- and drought-tolerant plant in the nightshade family. There are many varieties of this plant, including edible and ornamental types, but it is commonly grown to harvest the fruits for cooking. In the Capsicum annuum family, cayenne peppers are a medium-heat pepper that adds flavor to dishes, including stir-fries, soups, and salads. Its flavor and low-maintenance reputation make the cayenne pepper plant popular among home gardeners. If you want to cultivate this plant in your own garden, we spoke to experts who shared their tips for growing cayenne peppers at home. 

How to Plant Cayenne Peppers

The easiest way to grow cayenne peppers is to start them from seed indoors about six to 10 weeks before the last frost date in your area, says Lindsey Chastain, gardener and founder of Waddle and Cluck. Seeds can also be planted outside, as long as nighttime temperatures are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, as they need warm weather to germinate.

1. Sow seeds 1/4-inch deep in a seed tray filled with well-draining potting mix enriched with organic matter.
2. Water well and place the seeds in a warm, bright location. Use a heat mat or grow lights if you don't have a suitable area.
3. Once a true set of leaves appears, thin the seedlings so they are 2 to 3 inches apart.
4. When outside temperatures are warm enough, transplant the seedlings outside in a sunny location with well-draining soil.
5. Space each plant 18 to 24 inches apart. Water well.

How to Care for Cayenne Peppers 

Cayenne pepper plants are drought-tolerant, resilient plants that thrive with minimal care. That said, there are some things to keep in mind to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Soil

Cayenne peppers like moderately moist, well-draining soil. "One way to ensure well-draining soil is to till the bed thoroughly and add in some compost before planting," says Chastain.

Sunlight

Six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily is required for abundant harvests, says Edwin Dysigner, garden expert and co-founder of Seedtime. If you are growing cayenne pepper plants indoors, Dysinger says to place them next to a south-facing window to ensure they get enough light.

Fertilizer

Garden experts recommend fertilizing cayenne peppers with a 10-10-10 fertilizer throughout the growing season. Chastain says to avoid fertilizers with too much nitrogen. "Your leaves will be amazing, but you won’t have as many peppers," she says. Phosphorous and potassium will help with flower and fruit production.

Water

While cayenne peppers are drought-tolerant, they prefer consistently moist soil. Aim to give plants an inch of water per week or more when temperatures are very hot. Avoid getting the foliage wet when watering, as this makes plants more disease-prone. Anastasia Borisevich, resident plant expert at Plantum, recommends watering with tepid water. "Cold water may cause foliage problems," she says.

Temperature and Humidity

Cayenne pepper plants thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity, preferring nighttime temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If your region isn’t very humid in summer, consider growing your peppers in containers indoors where you can mist them and control the room’s humidity levels with portable humidifiers. 

Types of Cayenne Peppers

There are several different types of cayenne peppers. Here are a few of the most common.

• Long Slim: This is the most common type of cayenne pepper. "These are the long, red peppers most people know," says Chastain. "They are great for cooking and drying to make red pepper flakes."
• Golden: A yellow cayenne pepper that is a bit milder in flavor, the Golden pepper is commonly used in salsas, says Chastain.
• Ring of Fire: Despite its name, this pepper isn’t any hotter than the Long Slim, but it flowers much more quickly.
  

Growing Cayenne Peppers in Containers

Cayenne peppers grow well in containers. "Plus, containers prevent cross-contamination," says Chastain. If you grow any hot pepper with another edible plant, it can make that plant hot, she warns. Choose a container with drainage holes that is big enough to accommodate an extensive root system, such as a 5-gallon bucket. Fill the container with well-draining potting mix, not garden soil. Place the plant in the container and backfill with soil. Water the plant well and ensure it gets six to eight hours of full sun daily. 

How to Harvest Cayenne Peppers

Cayenne peppers are ready to harvest when they turn their mature color. They should also appear slightly wrinkled, says Chastain. "Always use pruners or garden scissors to remove the peppers instead of pulling them off so you don't damage the plant," she says. Harvest frequently once you start to get mature peppers, so the plant will continue to fruit throughout the growing season.

How to Propagate Cayenne Peppers

You can propagate cayenne peppers from home in late summer. Chastain recommends choosing a healthy stem that is 4 to 6 inches tall. Cut the stem with pruners or scissors, then remove all the lower leaves. Fill a container with well-draining potting soil or water and place the stem in the container. Keep the plant in humid, warm conditions for one to three weeks. "I like to create a small greenhouse with a clear plastic cup over the top," Chastain says. Alternatively, you can save the seeds from your peppers and plant those in a well-draining potting mix. 

Overwintering Cayenne Peppers

Overwintering cayenne peppers is possible if you keep the plant indoors and under a grow light or inside a warm room. While this will keep the plant alive during the colder months, it will not help the plant produce fruit, as these peppers need higher temperatures and greater amounts of light than most houses can provide during winter.

Common Pests and Diseases

The most common pests cayenne peppers face include aphids, spider mites, and cutworms. "Planting in pots helps to keep pests down," Chastain says. This is because potted plants are generally more isolated from other plants that may have pests. For plants already in the ground, keeping a natural barrier like mulch around the base of the plant can also keep these pests out. Always check regularly for pests, and if any appear, treat your plant immediately.

The most common diseases pepper plants encounter are root rot and powdery mildew. "Root rot can be prevented by well-draining soil and not flooding the roots," says Chastain. However, powdery mildew is common in humid environments, which the peppers love, making this disease harder to avoid. "It looks like white dust on the leaves, and the best way to prevent mildew is to make sure there is plenty of airflow between your plants," she says. Hence, planting the peppers further apart can help improve this issue.