Growing Cayenne Purple Hot Pepper Vegetable Seeds
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Latin Name: Capsicum annuum
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Hardiness Zone: Annual 4-10 (Perennial 9-11)
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Days to Maturity: 75-85
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Days to Germination: 10-14
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Seeding Depth: 1/4 Inches
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Plant Width: 24-36 Inches
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Plant Height: 18-24 Inches
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Row Spacing: 12-18 Inches
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Plant Spacing: 12 - 18 Inches
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Growth Habit: Sturdy upright
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Soil Preference: Rich, well-drained
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Temperature Preference: 70-90°F
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Light Preference: Full sun
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Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to fungus, leaf spotting, and root rot in soil with poor drainage. Also watch for aphids, white flies, and cut worms.
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Cayenne Purple Hot Pepper Color: Initially light green, turning first dark purple and then red as it matures.
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Cayenne Purple Hot Pepper Scoville: 30,000-50,000 SHU
How to Grow Cayenne Purple Hot Peppers from Seed
Thought to be native to the Cayenne region of French Guiana like all varieties of Cayenne peppers, this Capsicum annuum cultivar is similar to virtually all types of pepper plants in that it prefers warm growing conditions.
Like with most varieties of peppers, it's recommended to start the seeds indoors in early spring, sowing them 1/4" deep. Seeds typically germinate within 10 to 14 days. Once sprouted, the seedlings can be moved outdoors to either larger pots or to a well-drained garden bed as long as the weather has warmed enough for the soil to maintain a minimum temperature of 65° F.
Cayenne Purple Hot Peppers in the Vegetable Garden
These seeds are an excellent choice if you want to grow something in your garden that is both productive and ornamental. Not only will these plants provide you with deliciously hot peppers that can be used in a variety of recipes, the white and pale purple flowers that bloom when they reach maturity along with the distinctive purple peppers themselves will add a bright burst of color to your vegetable garden.
Rated between 30,000 and 50,000 on the Scoville scale, the peppers that grow from these seeds are incredibly hot and yet feature a hint of sweetness that sets them apart from the more widely known red cayenne peppers.
Harvesting Cayenne Purple Hot Peppers
You will know these peppers are ready to harvest because they will have a length of 2 - 3" while also remaining fairly thin. Additionally, while Cayenne Purple peppers start off green they will eventually transition first into the deep purple they are known for before finally shifting to a vibrant red color once they reach the final stage of maturity.
Once harvested from the garden, these peppers are a popular choice for drying but can also be incorporated into a variety of fresh recipes for an added burst of heat and flavor.
As with most types of peppers grown in an at-home garden, it's often best to snip the fruit from the plant with shears (leaving a small amount of stem behind on the plant) while also trying to minimize skin contact with the peppers themselves due to the high levels of capsaicin contained in the flesh of the fruit. For extra safety, particularly if you have sensitive skin, it's also recommended to wear gloves when picking hot peppers from the garden.
About Cayenne Purple Hot Pepper Seeds
Capsicum annuum. (75-85 days)
Great flavor with considerable heat, slightly sweeter than red cayenne peppers
Cayenne Purple* peppers are unique looking and spicy with thin walls.
Each pepper grows 4-6" long when it is fully mature and .5" wide with a pointed end. They can also be harvested when they are 1" long, but will not have their full spice.
