When to Plant Charleston Hot Cayenne

Starting Indoors

• The "Charleston Hot" cayenne is a tender plant that requires warmth to germinate and thrive. Therefore, if you live in a cooler region, start your hot pepper seeds indoors 6 to 10 weeks before the last expected spring frost. Keep them at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a bottom heat of 75 degrees Fahrenheit for best germination. You can also purchase starter plants at your local nursery and give them an indoor jump start, letting them soak in the warmth they need to grow strong enough for transplant.

Transplanting

• Once the danger of overnight frost passes and the outdoor soil temperature rises to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, it is safe to transplant your seedling "Charleston Hot" cayenne plants into the outdoor bed. First harden off the young plants for 7 to 14 days by placing them outside for progressively longer periods of time, starting in the shade and working up to partial sun. Give the plants some wind protection and bring them back indoors at night for the first few days. Water the young plants well after transplant to give them a healthy start.

Direct Seeding Outdoors

• Warm planting conditions are key to growing a healthy crop of "Charleston Hot" cayenne as cold conditions lower the plants' disease and stress resistance, making them vulnerable to infection and infestation. If reliably warm weather of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit comes early to your growing area, wait until the soil warms to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sow the "Charleston Hot" cayenne seeds directly in your outdoor bed. Plant each seed 1/4-inch deep and space the seeds such that the growing plants will get good air circulation and plenty of sunlight. Peppers begin to set fruit about six weeks after planting but if you live in a hot region where overnight temperatures are in excess of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, it will prevent fruit set. To avoid this problem, plant early enough to allow the plant to fruit before the high overnight temperatures set in.

Pest Control Rotation

• Besides the question of when to do the yearly hot cayenne planting, a nematode infestation of your other crops is another good time to plant "Charleston Hot" to provide a measure of pest control. If you have problems with nematodes in your garden, rotate the nematode-resistant "Charleston Hot" cayenne into the affected growing area for at least three consecutive years. This has a soil cleaning effect as the nematodes lose their food source and move on.