A chili pepper can grow to be how long? According to a report by a Swiss gardening enthusiast, the answer is 52.5 centimeters – almost as long as a rolling pin. What’s even more interesting is that he broke his own previous record for the world’s longest chili pepper set 8 years ago.
According to the Guinness World Records announced on August 26, Jürg Wiesli, an amateur gardener from Dozwil, Thurgau, Switzerland, successfully grew a chili pepper measuring 52.5 centimeters this year. After an official measurement on August 11, it was confirmed to have broken the record for the “world’s longest chili pepper”.
Wiesli is no stranger to growing “super long chilis”. In 2017, he participated in a local vegetable competition with a 45-centimeter long chili pepper, setting a world record for the first time. The following year, he grew a 50.5-centimeter chili pepper, extending his own record significantly. This record was held for 8 years until he broke it again this year.
The new record-breaking chili pepper is from the variety known as “Joe’s Long” of Cayenne pepper. Wiesli has been selectively breeding his own strains from the best-performing peppers each year, naming his latest creation “Wiesli Big Long”.
According to the Guinness World Records website, the seeds used for this 52.5 centimeter chili pepper this year originated from a 48.5 centimeter chili pepper he grew in 2025.
However, Wiesli mentioned that the real challenge in growing long chili peppers is not just making them long, but ensuring they grow straight enough. The longer a chili pepper gets, the more prone it is to bend. Once it bends, it’s almost impossible to straighten it manually as it may easily snap instead.
Wiesli starts sowing seeds indoors in March, using plant growth lights to maintain a temperature of around 28°C. Once the frost risk is gone, usually by the end of April, he moves the seedlings outdoors.
Soil preparation is also crucial. He first loosens the soil, mixes in plenty of mature compost, waters regularly, and applies balanced fertilizers. However, excessive use of fertilizers is not recommended. Wiesli explained that if too much fertilizer is used, the plant may focus more on leaf growth rather than producing chili peppers.
These long chili peppers are not just for size measurement. Some have a sweet taste, while others are quite spicy. After harvesting, Wiesli dries the peppers in a wood stove before grinding them into chili powder, adding spicy flavor to various dishes.