Cayenne pepper
Capsicum annuum
Also known asCayenne chili · Long red pepper · Guinea pepper · Pimiento de Cayena
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates. Strict on light; outside the DLI band, yields drop sharply.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 5–12 (winter low around -29°C)
- Frost
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: moderate.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.8 |
| flowering | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2.2 |
| fruiting | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2.4 |
Companion-growing notes
- Heavy uptake of potassium, calcium. Co-grown crops with the same demand will end up deficient even at "correct" EC.
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A productive, reliable hydroponic pepper. Hold EC around 1.8-2.6 mS/cm and pH 5.8-6.5. Run 21–30°C with high light, 20-28 mol/m2/day. It crops heavily in deep water culture, Dutch bucket or drip. First harvest is 70 to 85 days from transplant for green fruit, 85 to 100 for red ripe, with 30 to 50 or more peppers per plant in good conditions. Pick red for drying, the main use, or green for fresh cooking. To dry, dehydrate whole at 55–65°C until brittle then grind for homemade cayenne powder, which is far more aromatic than old store-bought powder; string-drying on twine in a warm, dry, airy spot also works where humidity is low. Keep calcium steady through fruiting to prevent blossom end rot. The plants respond to pinching the growing tip at 25–30 cm for more branching and fruiting sites.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Red Slim Cayenne | open pollinated | 75 | The standard market cayenne. 12-15 cm thin curved fruit, dries cleanly, the variety most commercial cayenne powder is made from. |
| Joe's Long Cayenne | heirloom | 80 | Italian heirloom from Joe Sestito of Troy, NY. Very long (25-30 cm) thin fruit, productive, suits drying and stringing into ristras. |
| Carolina Cayenne | open pollinated | 80 | USDA-developed, nematode-resistant. Hotter than standard cayenne (75,000-100,000 Scoville), shorter fruit. Suited to Southern US heat and pest pressure. |