Little hint of Chilli and everything tastes just so much better

Cayenne herb photoLong red Cayenne peppers, Capsicum frutescens, are favorite for many home gardeners. Cayenne peppers and the name Cayenne comes from the city of Cayenne in French Guiana. These chili peppers are also called African Pepper, Devil's Tongue, Red Bird Pepper, and Hot Flame peppers. Not only are these hearty vegetables easy to grow and delicious to eat, but they also contain more vitamin C than oranges!

Cayenne is a shrubby plant about 2 to 4 feet tall that is native to South and Central America. It is grown worldwide for it's culinary and medicinal properties. The plants have smooth, somewhat shiny, green leaves, and flowers that produce elongated oval-shaped pods (peppers) that contain dozens of tiny, pungent tasting seeds. The peppers and seeds are highly aromatic and have a hot, spicy flavor.

Everybody needs to grow chillis for cooking. Even if you don't like hot food, just a little hint of chilli to warm it up stimulates the taste buds and everything else tastes just so much better.

Culture

Pot Size                      6-inch or larger size container.

Seed Germination        16 to 20 days. The seed needs at least 20°C to germinate.

Seed Spacing               Push the seeds just below the surface at a depth not over two millimetres.

Plant Spacing               18 to 24 inches apart

Soil Requirements         Will grow in any reasonably fertile soil and don't need any special treatment. But they grow better in rich soils and produce more fruit.

Growing Mix                  Mix together very well 1/3 Potting Soil, 1/3 Sand and 1/3 Garden soil (needs to be well tilled).

Fertilizer                       Fertilize lightly about once a month with Fish emulsion.

Sun & Lighting               Full sun. Cayenne peppers need to receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Water Requirements       Keep the plant well watered but do not overwater.
Uses

The benefits of Cayenne Pepper have been well known for thousands of years, but it hasn't been until recently that the Western world has redeemed this spicy vegetable as more than just a tongue twister. Many herbalists believe that the Cayenne Pepper is the most useful of all medicinal herbs. Not only is the Pepper naturally high in Vitamins A, C, and the B complexes, but its is also very rich in organic calcium and potassium. As an added benefit, Cayenne also acts as a catalyst when combined with other herbs, increasing their effectiveness and healing properties.

Cayenne peppers contain capsaisin, a substance that many believe offer health benefits. Despite its 'burning' reputation, it has a soothing effect on the digestive tract and can aid in the treatment of other conditions including migraines, toothaches, fevers, congestion, sprains and muscle pain. Cayenne pepper delivers healing blood (the river of life) into sick or dying organs better than any other herb or medicine. Cayenne can also be applied topically to improve blood flow.


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