Capsicum Long Red Cayenne pepper plants produce chillies between 10 and 20cm that are long thin tapered fruit. Peppers can be green and red, but are most often red.
The plants prefer warmer conditions where temperatures reach between 20 and 30°C. They don’t tolerate frost very well.
The Scoville rating for Cayenne peppers is between 30 000 and 50 000 Scoville units. Cayenne peppers are considered a somewhat hot pepper. Around 5 to 10 times hooter than the Jalapeno pepper.
Difficulty: Easy
Soil: Peppers prefer rich, well composted, loamy soil with good drainage.
Sowing: Spring/Summer
Germination: 14-21 days
Days to maturity: 80-100 days
Position: Full sun
Spacing: 50×50 cm
Sow Depth: 5 mm
Height: 60-100 cm
Watering: Once or twice a week is a good start and allow water to drain thoroughly. However, water needs can vary depending on weather conditions and growth stage. Water more frequently during warmer times. Do not overwater pepper plants.
Growing Notes:
There are various ways to germinate seeds. You can use the moist paper towel method, germinate in trays indoors or sow directly in pots. However, it is a good idea to start seeds indoors in small pots or germination trays. Keep the medium moist during germination and if you can maintain a warm consistent temperature it will be beneficial. You can soak seeds for about 2 hours to soften the seeds. It is common to soak seeds in a weak Hydrogen peroxide or weak chamomile tea solution. Do not sow seeds too deep. Be patient as some hotter varieties can take weeks to germinate. After seeds sprout and a few leaves have formed, you can start to transplant and move outdoors when temperatures become warmer. Peppers love rich soil, so adding compost to the garden or potting mix is highly recommended.
Uses:
Red Cayenne peppers are of the hotter chilli varieties. Use them in spicy dishes like Chile Con Carne, vegetable soup, stews, Indian curries and Chilli Sauces. They are also great to dry and grind up into a powder. Also used to infuse oils and fry along with breadcrumbs to add to salads.
Origin:
Cayenne is derived from the Tupi word “Kyinha”. The Cayenne pepper is native to tropical parts of South America and grows in different parts of the world including America, India and Africa.
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