{"product_id":"red-cayenne-heirloom-pepper-seeds","title":"Red Cayenne Heirloom Pepper Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRed Cayenne\u003c\/strong\u003e is the pepper most people picture when they hear the word cayenne: slender scarlet pods with a clean, direct heat and none of the fuss. Plants are compact, upright, and relentlessly productive, turning out pods all season long for drying, crushing, and cooking. This open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom is the workhorse of the hot pepper garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCayenne peppers take their name from the port city of Cayenne in French Guiana, though the pepper itself was cultivated across the tropical Americas long before European traders carried it worldwide. Portuguese and Spanish ships spread it through Africa, India, and Asia in the sixteenth century, where it was adopted so completely that many cuisines now treat it as native. Gardeners have kept the traditional red form going for generations because it dries beautifully, stores for years as powder or flakes, and hits a heat level that seasons food rather than overwhelming it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003ePlant Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to Maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70–80 days from transplant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4–6 inches long, about ½ inch wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24–30 inches tall, 18–24 inches wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom; warm-season annual\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClean, bright, straightforward heat in the 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville range, warm rather than sharp, with a faintly fruity note underneath. The flesh is thin and firm, which is exactly why it dries so well. Fully ripened red pods are noticeably richer and rounder in flavor than green ones, and the heat concentrates as they dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen to Plant\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart seed indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last expected frost. Peppers want warmth to germinate, so aim for a soil temperature of 75–85°F, which usually means a heat mat rather than a windowsill. Transplant outdoors only after night temperatures hold above 55°F and the soil has genuinely warmed; peppers set out into cold ground sulk for weeks. Harden seedlings off over 7 to 10 days before planting out. Check your last frost date against the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/planthardiness.ars.usda.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eUSDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Tips \u0026amp; Planting Dimensions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeed depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e ¼ inch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant spacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18–24 inches apart\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRow spacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24–36 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7–14 days at 75–85°F\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSun:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, 6–8 hours minimum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained, moderately rich, pH 6.0–6.8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 inch per week, consistent rather than heavy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGo easy on nitrogen once plants are established, or you will grow a beautiful leafy bush with very few pods. Water at soil level rather than overhead to keep foliage dry and discourage leaf spot. Rotate peppers away from beds that held tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplant the previous season, since they share soilborne diseases. A layer of mulch holds moisture steady and prevents the soil splash that carries disease onto lower leaves. Heavily loaded plants can lean, so a short stake or tomato cage is cheap insurance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e🌱 Gentle Cover Germination 🌱\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInto the surface — thin cover only, no light needed. Cayenne seed is small and flat, and it germinates best with warmth and patience rather than depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart with the right foundation.\u003c\/strong\u003e Use a fine seed-starting mix — not garden soil or coarse potting mix. Sift it if needed. Small seeds need a smooth, even surface to make good contact and germinate reliably.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCover lightly — just barely.\u003c\/strong\u003e Press seeds onto the moist surface and cover with no more than 1\/8 inch of finely sifted mix. These seeds don't need light to germinate but they don't want to be buried either.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMist, don't drench.\u003c\/strong\u003e Use a spray bottle to keep the surface evenly moist. Watering from above can wash small seeds away before they ever get started.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWarmth is your friend.\u003c\/strong\u003e These seeds germinate best at 65–70°F — basically normal room temperature. A heat mat can help if your space runs cool.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrap the humidity.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cover your tray with a humidity dome or a loose piece of plastic wrap. This keeps moisture and warmth stable while you wait.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGive them time.\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep conditions consistent, resist the urge to overwater, and trust the process — they will sprout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThin with scissors, not fingers.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once seedlings appear, snip extras at the soil line rather than pulling. These roots are close together and pulling one can disturb its neighbors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePepper footnote:\u003c\/em\u003e cayenne is happiest germinating at the upper end of the range, closer to 80°F, so a heat mat genuinely earns its keep here. Peppers are also slower than tomatoes, so don't give up at day ten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Type \u0026amp; Harvest Yields\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Cayenne grows as a bushy, self-supporting shrub rather than a vine, branching freely and holding its pods upright and outward where they are easy to find. A healthy plant produces 30 to 50 pods over the season, and picking regularly pushes it to set more. Two or three plants supply a typical household with dried cayenne for the entire year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKnowing When to Harvest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWait for full, glossy scarlet red. Green pods are edible but noticeably flat in flavor and milder, and the color change is your best ripeness signal. Pods firm up and the skin takes on a slight sheen when they are ready. Cut rather than pull, leaving a short stem, since the branches snap easily. Pick every few days once production starts. Fresh pods keep about two weeks in the refrigerator, and whole pods dry easily on a string or screen in a warm airy spot, then store for years in a sealed jar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCompanion Plants \u0026amp; Mutual Benefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBasil\u003c\/strong\u003e — repels aphids and thrips, and the two share the same heat and water preferences.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOnions\u003c\/strong\u003e — their scent confuses pests hunting for pepper foliage, and their narrow tops use almost no bed space.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarrots\u003c\/strong\u003e — work the soil below the pepper's root zone without competing for the same nutrients.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarigolds\u003c\/strong\u003e — deter nematodes in the soil and draw in the predatory insects that handle aphids for you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOregano\u003c\/strong\u003e — low, spreading growth acts as living mulch that keeps soil moisture even.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNasturtiums\u003c\/strong\u003e — pull aphids away from your peppers as a trap crop, and the flowers are edible.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to Enjoy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDry whole pods and grind them into your own cayenne powder, fresher and brighter than anything on a shelf.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrush dried pods into red pepper flakes for pizza, pasta, and eggs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFerment fresh red pods into a classic thin-bodied hot sauce.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInfuse a bottle of vinegar or olive oil with a few pods for instant heat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThread fresh pods on cotton string and hang a ristra in the kitchen, both storage and decoration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlice thin into soups, beans, and braises where a little warmth lifts everything else.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOrder Today\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant a few Red Cayenne and you will never buy a dusty jar of cayenne powder again. Grab your seed now and set yourself up for a year's worth of heat from one summer's harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Garden Heirloom Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Starter Pack of 10 seeds","offer_id":54097998512442,"sku":null,"price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Garden Pack of 25 seeds - 🌱 Best Value","offer_id":54097998545210,"sku":null,"price":2.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1003\/7850\/9626\/files\/red-cayenne-harvest-basket-with-a-closer-treeline-and-more-raised-beds.png?v=1789946522","url":"https:\/\/gardenheirloomseeds.com\/products\/red-cayenne-heirloom-pepper-seeds","provider":"Garden Heirloom Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}