Zone 11 · Peppers Growing Guide

When to Plant Cayenne Pepper
in Zone 11

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
~none
Days to harvest
70–80 days
Difficulty
Easy
Ready to harvest — Zone 11
Harvest window: Year-round

Planting Calendar

In Zone 11, Cayenne Pepper should be planted outdoors Year-round, after the average last frost date of approximately none.

Perennial shrub. Can reach 4+ feet tall over multiple years.

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 11

Perennial shrub. Can reach 4+ feet tall over multiple years.

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 11, direct sow cayenne pepper outdoors Year-round after your last frost date of approximately none. Perennial shrub. Can reach 4+ feet tall over multiple years.
Zone 11 has an average last spring frost of approximately none and a first fall frost around none. 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 11. Expected harvest window: Year-round.

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Cayenne Pepper in other zones
Crop Guides