How to Grow Cayenne Peppers in a Container

Decide how many cayenne pepper plants you want. Keep in mind that each plant can produce as many as 50 peppers so, unless you have family or friends who would take some peppers off your hands, you may want to stick to one or two plants.

Fill 4-inch pots two-thirds full with rich organic potting mix. You may also use regular potting mix, but keep in mind that these peppers do not do well in nitrogen-rich soil and prefer compost over manure for fertilizer.

Make a slight depression, about 1/4 inch deep, in the center of each pot with your index finger.

Drop two or three cayenne pepper seeds into the depression in each pot. Barely cover the seeds with potting mix and water them gently.

Place the pots in a warm location out of direct sunlight and keep the soil moist. To check the moisture of the pot, stick your finger into the soil near the edge of the pot. If the soil feels dry, water the pot gently. Allow three to four weeks for the seeds to sprout. Once they do, move the pots into direct sunlight.

Thin the plants after they produce their second set of leaves. Cull all but the strongest plant in each pot by pinching the others off just above the soil. Do not pull the seedlings up or you may risk disturbing the roots of the stronger plant.

Prepare a water-soluble plant food mixture and water it down to half strength. Feed the cayenne peppers once every two weeks with this mixture.

Transplant the peppers into larger pots when their roots fill the 4-inch pots. In the garden, cayenne peppers should be spaced 18 inches apart, so transplant each pepper into a pot about 18 inches wide.

Maintain your pepper plants by allowing them to dry in between watering. Feed the peppers every two to three weeks with organic fertilizer.

Harvest your peppers when they are deep red. Keep in mind that the longer you leave the pepper on the plant, the hotter it will get. Harvest your peppers often to encourage the growth of new fruit.