Cayenne pepper plants are very easily grown in the garden. They fall in the middle range as far as hotness is concerned.
At maturity, they appear three inches tall and two inches wide.
Because of their ability to produce several peppers on a single plant, a couple of plants are usually enough for a household.
Proper Soil
Soil for growing peppers must be moist, but not soggy, and have good drainage.
Cayenne peppers should not be grown near other varieties because these fruits have a tendency to cross pollinate.
The container holding the soil can be mulched with an organic material, such as straw, to aid with drainage. Mulching is also a natural method of protecting against pests and disease.
Sunlight Requirements
Cayenne peppers are best grown in full sun.
When purchasing these plants from a garden center, make sure to choose the ones that do not have flowers or fruit yet.
» Related – Pinching Pepper Plant Flowers: Should You Do It & How It’s Done
Once planted, the plant takes 70-80 days to bear fruit. Make sure to avoid any dangers of frost while planting.
If you want more help growing cayenne pepper plants and other chillies, be sure to check out The Pepper Seed Starting Guide. This ebook contains all the steps that explain how to go from seeds to healthy, outdoor-ready plants.
To Seed or Not To?
Cayenne peppers are in the middle range as far as hotness is concerned.
They can be used to spice up dishes that require heat, but do not have the intensity of a habanero pepper. In order to reduce the heat, the seeds inside the skin can be removed.
Cultivating cayenne peppers helps a great deal when it comes to Mexican cooking.
Cayenne peppers are also used for other cuisines such as Cajun dishes.
Further, in the south, it’s a common to pickle cayenne peppers by placing them in a jar and allowing them to marinate in vinegar. The juice obtained as a result is used in the flavoring of collard greens.
Cayenne Pepper Aliases
Cayenne peppers are native to central and south America and are also known as the “Red Bird Pepper”, “African Pepper”, “Cockspur Pepper”, “Devils Tongue”, “Goats Pepper”and “Hot Flame.”
Medical Uses for Cayenne Peppers
Cayenne chili plants are also grown for medical purposes.
Capsaicin, its main ingredient, helps in the treatment of digestive tract problems, congestion, migraines, fevers, muscle pains, toothaches, and sprains. It also improves blood circulation if applied topically.
In cooking, cayenne peppers can be used like a condiment and can also be dried and crushed to create a chili powder. It greatly adds taste to foods like fish, sauces, cheese dishes, egg salads and soups.
It is one of the most diverse spices available today.
And for those of you looking for complete, how-to steps on all indoor growing phases, from germinating your seeds to getting your seedlings to the point where they can safely go outside… Make sure to check out the updated and expanded Pepper Seed Starting Guide. I personally use this resource to start my abundant pepper garden each season, and I’m always here to answer questions!
