Long Red Cayenne

Family: Solanaceae Hot Pepper

Planting Schedule

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Long Red Cayenne unfurls with a vivid, sunset-red glow—sleek, pencil-straight pods that feel crisp and taut to the touch.

Expect a bright, piquant heat with a clean, peppery snap, ideal for turning up the intensity in sauces and salsas, or for drying and grinding into fiery seasoning. A warm-season favorite for gardeners who love bold flavor that stays lively from fresh harvest to pantry-ready use.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 80 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Long Red Cayenne

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Long Red Cayenne 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 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	Jul 14th	Oct 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	Jul 8th	Sep 26th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	Jul 3rd	Sep 21st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	Jun 29th	Sep 17th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	Jun 26th	Sep 14th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Jun 20th	Sep 8th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Jun 15th	Sep 3rd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Jun 5th	Aug 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	May 27th	Aug 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	May 18th	Aug 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	May 1st	Jul 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	Apr 6th	Jun 25th – 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	80
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

Long Red Cayenne is built for cooks who want a lively, peppery kick that doesn’t dull into background heat—its crisp pod holds shape in salsa and slices cleanly for quick pickling. Use it to drive punch in vinegar, bean, or poultry situations, and keep it to a brief sauté or it can turn harsh.

Best Uses

chopped fresh into salsas where the heat stays vivid
hot pepper vinegar or quick-pickled slivers for sharp, fast punch
drying and grinding to a vivid, pencil-thin cayenne powder
stirred into sofrito-style bases and fried briefly to wake up heat without scorching

Flavor Profile

bright, piquant heat clean peppery snap slender, crisp pod texture that stays snappy when chopped

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lime smoked paprika chicken thighs black beans apple cider vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common pest or disease issue for Capsicum annuum (Long Red Cayenne) and how do I treat it?

A frequent problem is blossom-end rot caused by inconsistent watering that prevents calcium uptake, showing as dark, sunken spots on the pepper tip. Keep soil evenly moist (not soggy) and water deeply when the top 1–2 inches dry, then mulch to reduce drying swings. If you’ve already spotted rot, remove affected fruits and correct the moisture pattern; new fruit should improve as conditions stabilize.

How often should I water Long Red Cayenne during the main growing phase (after flowering starts)?

Water deeply about 1–2 times per week during fruit set, aiming for consistently moist soil; increase frequency during hot, windy weather. Let the top inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow prolonged drying that can trigger blossom-end rot. In-ground plants often need less frequent watering than container peppers, so check moisture by feel before watering.

How can I tell when Long Red Cayenne peppers are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully elongated and firm, with the color fully turning from green to bright red (typically around 80 days). The best test is size plus firmness—ripe cayenne will feel taut and snap slightly rather than staying soft or floppy. Use scissors or snips to avoid pulling and damaging the plant.