The cayenne pepper is a subspecies of Capsicum annuum and is a shrubby perennial herbaceous plant in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The cayenne pepper is native to the Caribbean and North and South America. The plant grows up to 1.5 to 3 feet tall with simple ovate leaves and white flowers. The flowers are self pollinating but benefit from insect contact. Cayenne pepper is grown as an ornamental, but primarily as food crop as the fruit, or peppers, are globally used as a spice. The plant thrives in moist well draining soil with a slightly high pH. Full sun to partial shade are ideal light conditions. Water thoroughly when soil appears dry, allowing the soil to dry in between waterings. Cayenne pepper does best in warm temperatures, ranging from 65°F to 90°F. USDA plant hardiness zone 9a to 11b.
Cayenne pepper seeds germinate best when soaked in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting. Seeds should be sown at a depth of a ¼ inch deep and spaced .05 to 1 inch apart to avoid overplanting. Sow seeds in well draining nutrient dense soil and keep soil moist but not soaking wet. Ideal germination temperatures are between 70°F to 85°F. Germination typically takes 2 to 3 weeks to occur. Even with optimal conditions, germination may be slow and sporadic.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING DISCLAIMER:
All packages will be shipped with basic customs information such as; HS codes, VAT numbers, and properly labeled contents. Unfortunately, The Garden of Set is unable to provide phytosanitary certificates for orders at this time. It is the buyer’s responsibility to know local laws regarding the import of plants, seeds, and plant products into their country. It is also up to the buyer to provide any other customs forms or information required to import plants into their country. If packages get stopped by customs, The Garden of Set will not be able to provide a refund for the purchase. Most of the time packages make it to their destinations just fine, this is for the small minority of packages that get stopped without having all the proper customs information required by the country of import. Purchase at your own discretion.