Cayenne Long Slim

Family: Solanaceae Hot Pepper

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Cayenne Long Slim to a garden.

Crimson-scarlet heat with a bright, peppery snap—Cayenne Long Slim delivers long, slender pods that hang like glossy ribbons and deepen to a vivid, mature red.

The flesh is crisp and finely textured, ideal for drying or for adding bold, fiery character to sauces and pickles. Grow this 75-day standout for a steady harvest of elegant pods that look as striking as they taste.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Cayenne Long Slim

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Cayenne Long Slim Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Mar 30th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This long, crisp cayenne gives you an immediate, linear burn without tasting woody—more snap than smoke—so it stays lively in vinegar pickles and hot sauces. Dry it until it turns pliable-dry, then grind for a vivid, pepper-forward heat that clings to oil-based marinades and chicken.

Best Uses

string-out for quick pickling in vinegar and salt brine
toasted-and-crushed into fiery spice blends
dry and grind for a redder, more fragrant cayenne powder
slender slicing into hot sauces for a clean heat curve

Flavor Profile

crimson-hot cayenne heat bright peppery bite crisp, finely textured flesh snap when fresh; leathery-dry when dehydrated

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lime vinegar olive oil black pepper chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Capsicum annuum (cayenne peppers), and how can I control it?

A frequent problem is aphids and thrips, which can stunt growth and cause leaves to curl while also spreading virus diseases. Spray affected plants with insecticidal soap or neem, and remove heavily infested tips; repeat every 5–7 days for two to three cycles. For fungal issues like blossom-end/fruit rots, avoid wetting foliage and ensure steady watering (drought–soak swings trigger stress-related problems).

How often should I water Capsicum annuum during the main growing phase?

During active fruit development (roughly once plants are flowering), keep soil evenly moist but not soggy: water deeply about 1–2 times per week, more often in hot, windy weather. The goal is a wet root zone down several inches without standing water; let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings. Consistent moisture helps prevent misshapen pods and stress-related blossom-end issues.

How do I know when cayenne peppers (Capsicum annuum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods reach the typical cayenne length and look firm; for the classic red cayenne, wait until the pods are fully red and glossy. You can also harvest earlier (green) for a milder flavor, but full maturity generally aligns with about 75 days. Use scissors or snips to avoid tearing the plant, and pick regularly to encourage continued flowering and new pod set.