Zone 10 · Peppers Growing Guide

When to Plant Cayenne Pepper
in Zone 10

Thin, hot peppers that dry beautifully. Prolific producer and easy to grow. Dry and grind your own cayenne powder — far better than store-bought.

Plant outdoors
Year-round
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Jan 15
Days to harvest
70–80 days
Difficulty
Easy
Ready to harvest — Zone 10
Harvest window: Year-round

Planting Calendar

In Zone 10, Cayenne Pepper should be planted outdoors Year-round, after the average last frost date of approximately Jan 15.

True perennial. Prune back each winter to encourage vigorous new growth.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Moderate
Spacing
18–24 inches
Soil
Well-draining, fertile loam
Days to maturity
70–80 days
Soil pH
6.0–6.8
plant tip · Zone 10

True perennial. Prune back each winter to encourage vigorous new growth.

Feeding Schedule

How often
every 2 weeks
Feed type
tomato feed (high potassium)
Key timing
start when first flowers appear

Feed regularly during the long growing season. Reduce nitrogen once plants are flowering.

Companion Planting for Cayenne Pepper

What you plant next to cayenne pepper makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Basil
  • Tomatoes
  • Carrots
  • Marigolds
Keep away from
  • Fennel
  • Brassicas

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Common questions

In Zone 10, direct sow cayenne pepper outdoors Year-round after your last frost date of approximately Jan 15. True perennial. Prune back each winter to encourage vigorous new growth.
Zone 10 has an average last spring frost of approximately Jan 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 31. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for cayenne pepper include Basil, Tomatoes, Carrots, Marigolds. Avoid planting near Fennel, Brassicas, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Cayenne Pepper typically takes 70–80 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 10. Expected harvest window: Year-round.

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Cayenne Pepper in other zones
Crop Guides