VegetablePepper
Ristra Cayenne Pepper
Ristra Cayenne Pepper is an F1 hybrid that delivers serious heat in a surprisingly elegant package. This upright annual grows to 18-24 inches and produces extra-long, wrinkled cayenne peppers that twist beautifully as they develop, making them as striking in the garden as they are on the plate. Maturing in just 70-79 days from transplant, it reaches peak productivity across hardiness zones 4-13 in full sun. With a Scoville rating of 25,000 to 35,000 Heat Units, this is a medium-hot pepper bred for versatility, thriving equally well in containers, raised beds, or garden plots.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
12
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
Those extra-long, wrinkled fruits are the real showstopper here, sometimes stretching a full foot long with a distinctive twisted form that makes them worth stringing up to dry. The thin walls mean they dry quickly and evenly, developing deep color and concentrated flavor. Deer-resistant and equipped with natural tolerance to blossom end rot, this hybrid handles challenging growing conditions while still delivering abundant harvests within 70 days of transplanting.
Common Uses
These peppers excel at being fried fresh, sliced into stir-fries, or dried whole for storage and later use in powders and seasonings. The thin-walled structure makes them particularly suited to drying compared to thicker-walled pepper varieties, and home gardeners have traditionally strung them together (a practice called a ristra) for both decorative and practical preservation. The medium heat level makes them accessible for those who want serious flavor without overwhelming spice.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date, keeping soil consistently warm (70-80°F for best germination). Transplant seedlings under grow lights once they develop true leaves.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting when peppers reach full length (often 6-8 inches or longer) and turn from green to a bright red color, typically 70-79 days after transplanting. Peppers can be harvested at any stage, but for drying and maximum heat development, wait until they're fully red and the skin develops a wrinkled, papery texture. Cut peppers from the plant using a sharp knife or pruners rather than pulling, which can damage the stem. Continue harvesting throughout the season to encourage new fruit production.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Deer ResistantEdible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum annuum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)