505 · Cayenne (Long)

About this plant

Slender, wrinkled red pods six inches or more, hanging in quantity on a sturdy plant. Heat lands in the 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville range with a clean, straightforward burn and thin walls that dry beautifully. This is the pepper to string up for drying and grinding into your own cayenne powder or steeping in vinegar for hot sauce.

Planting it at home

When to plant out

Wait until after our last frost (about mid-February) and warm soil — usually March. Until then keep the pot in a sunny, sheltered spot and bring it in on cold nights.

Spacing

14–18

Size

24–36 in tall × 18–24 in wide

Support

Bush / compact — little or no support

Care

Sun

Full sun (8–12 h)

Water

Even, moderate; deep & infrequent

Feed

Every 3–4 weeks with a balanced vegetable fertilizer; go light on nitrogen so plants set fruit (general guide).

Pick / harvest

Ripe

Good to know

Grown from

Seed — sown by FHCG volunteers

Spice level

Hot (30,000–50,000 Scoville)

Heirloom or hybrid

Heirloom — saved seeds grow true

Caution

HOT: wash hands after cutting pods; keep from eyes.

Days to harvest

~70–75

Heat (our summer)

High

Color

Red