VegetablePepper
Cayenne Golden Pepper
Cayenne Golden Pepper brings the heat and the glow to your garden. This open-pollinated heirloom produces stunning golden peppers that pack 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units, delivering genuine cayenne spice in a form that catches the eye. From transplant to harvest takes just 80-89 days, making it fast enough for most growing seasons. Compact plants reach 18-24 inches tall, fitting neatly into garden beds, raised boxes, or greenhouses across zones 4-13.
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
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The moment you see peppers turning golden on these upright plants, you'll understand why gardeners seek this variety out. Fully mature fruits reach 4-6 inches with smooth, luminous skin that seems to glow against the foliage. The spicy kick comes genuine and full, delivered through those beautiful golden pods that ripen faster than many cayennes. Deer leave them alone, and the compact 18-24 inch plant size means you can tuck several into tight spaces without crowding.
Common Uses
These peppers are built for drying and processing into cayenne powder, the foundation spice of many global cuisines. Fresh, they bring serious heat to salsas, hot sauces, and spicy condiments. The thick walls and substantial size make them excellent candidates for stuffing, roasting, or pickling. Home gardeners and small-scale producers appreciate them for making custom spice blends, preserves, and fermented hot sauces where the bright golden color adds visual appeal to finished products.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Peppers germinate slowly, so maintain soil temperature around 70-80°F and expect sprouting in 10-14 days. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge to prevent leggy growth.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F, ideally 65-70°F. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days by exposing them to outdoor conditions in increasing increments. Space transplants 18 inches apart with rows 36 inches apart. Water gently at transplanting to settle soil around roots.
Harvesting
Peppers reach full maturity at 4-6 inches long and turn from green to bright golden yellow. Fully mature golden peppers deliver the best flavor and heat. Harvest by cutting peppers from the plant with pruners or a sharp knife rather than pulling, which can damage branches. Peppers can be harvested at any stage for fresh use, but waiting until they're fully golden gives you the signature color and maximum Scoville heat. Mature plants continue producing through the season if you keep harvesting.
Pruning
Given the upright growth habit and compact mature height of 18-24 inches, minimal pruning is needed. Removing lower leaves once plants are established improves air circulation and reduces disease pressure. Pinching out the first flower buds when plants are young encourages bushier growth and more total 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)
History & Origin
“Cayenne Golden is an open-pollinated heirloom variety, meaning it's been selected and saved by gardeners across generations for its reliable traits and distinctive appearance. The cayenne pepper itself carries deep roots in global food culture, traveling from Central and South America into kitchens worldwide. This golden mutation represents gardeners' careful selection for both ornamental brightness and authentic heat, preserving a form that stands apart from the traditional red cayenne through intentional seed saving and cultivation.”