Long Red Cayenne

Family: Solanaceae Hot Pepper

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

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Feb 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 8th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

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.