VegetablePepper
Cayenne Sweetness Pepper
Cayenne Sweetness is a deceptive pepper that looks like it'll set your mouth on fire but delivers pure, mild sweetness instead. This F1 hybrid grows upright to 18-30 inches, producing 5-inch bright red pods that are tender and genuinely flavorful without heat. Hardy in zones 4-13 and ready to harvest in just 60-69 days, it thrives in full sun and produces yields suitable for fresh eating, sautéing, or pickling. The variety's 0-200 Scoville Heat Unit range means you get all the cayenne's visual drama with none of the burn.
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
30 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The Cayenne Sweetness pepper succeeds by breaking the rules: it wears the long, pointed shape and vivid red color of a cayenne but tastes completely sweet. That contradiction is its greatest strength, giving gardeners the ornamental appeal of a hot pepper without intimidating anyone at the dinner table. The compact, upright growth habit fits neatly into garden plots, raised beds, and even greenhouse containers, while the tender flesh means these peppers are ready to eat straight from the plant or transformed into quick pickles.
Common Uses
These peppers shine eaten fresh off the vine, their mild sweetness and tender flesh making them approachable for anyone hesitant about spicy food. They sauté beautifully, developing caramelized notes when cooked, and their shape and bright color make them stunning when stuffed whole. Their lack of heat also makes them excellent for pickling, where the sweet pepper flavor complements vinegar-based brines without the pungency that can overwhelm a pickle.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil kept between 70-85°F for best germination. Provide consistent moisture and bright light once seedlings emerge. Transplants are typically ready in 6-8 weeks.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to 60-70°F. Space plants 18 inches apart with 36 inches between rows, positioning them in full sun locations.
Harvesting
Peppers reach full maturity in 60-69 days from transplanting and are ready when they've turned a glossy bright red and feel firm to the touch. The 5-inch pods should be tender but not soft. Harvest by cutting peppers from the stem with pruners rather than pulling, which can damage the plant. You can harvest at any stage for fresh eating, though waiting for full red color maximizes sweetness and flavor development.
Pruning
The upright growth habit of Cayenne Sweetness requires minimal pruning. Remove only dead or diseased growth and any branches that cross or crowd others. Pinching the growing tip when plants are 6-8 inches tall encourages bushier development and more fruit production.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum annuum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)