cayenne pepper
Capsicum annuum var. longum
A group of chilli and cayenne peppers. They are upright, bushy annuals or short-lived perennials. The small white flowers are followed by smaller, slender, hot edible fruit usually ripening from green to red
0.5-1 metres
0.1-0.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Best grown inside on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse, but can be grown outside once all danger of frost has passed; select a sunny, sheltered position and grow in containers, peat-free growing bags or in open ground. Water regularly and feed with a high-potassium, liquid fertiliser once the first fruit has set. See how to grow: chilli peppers for further advice.
Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
No pruning required; pinch out growing tips of plants when they are about 20cm tall to encourage bushiness
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, whitefly, aphids, slugs and snails
May be susceptible to grey moulds