Peppers are Very Easy to Grow…basically plant and watch grow.  There are a few tips though that can help the process.

Water in moderation.
Peppers are thirsty plants! They need a moderate supply of water from the moment they sprout until the end of the season. However, peppers won’t tolerate a saturated soil that waterlogs their roots. The soil must drain well, yet hold

Growing Peppers Is Easy

enough moisture to keep the plants in production. To maintain a proper balance, before transplanting, work some organic matter into the soil to enhance moisture retention. Use mulch to prevent excessive evaporation from the soil during the dry summer months.

Don’t overfertilize. 
This tends to make the pepper plants develop lush foliage at the expense of fruit production. Peppers are light feeders. If you work 5-10-10 fertilizer into the soil prior to transplanting, that’s probably sufficient. You can also side-dress the plants with a light sprinkling of 5-10-10 when blossoming starts, just to give them a boost if needed.

Plastic Mulch. 

To get an early start with your peppers, particularly in the North, cover the prepared bed with a dark colored polyethylene mulch at least a week before transplanting. This will heat the soil beneath and provide a better growing condition for young pepper plants. The mulch will also help the soil retain moisture throughout the season as the plants grow.

Companion Planting.
If you practice this technique, try planting peppers near tomatoes, parsley, basil, and carrots. Don’t plant peppers near fennel or kohlrabi.

Staking.
Peppers are easily damaged when laden with fruit. For support, tie the plants to stakes using old nylons, which have some ‘give’ as the stems enlarge. Don’t use wire twist-ties or twine which will gradually choke off or even snap the stem.

credits:  burpee.com and bettervegetablegardening.com  Check out both of these sites for more information about growing peppers

Tomatoes are commonly classified as Determinate or Indeterminate.  What’s the difference?

Determinate Tomatoes, or “bush” tomatoes, are varieties that grow to a compact height (generally 3 – 4′).  Determinates stop growing when fruit sets on the top bud. All the tomatoes from the plant ripen at approximately the same time (usually over period of 1- 2 weeks). They require a limited amount of staking for support and are perfectly suited for container planting.   Examples are: Rutgers, Roma, Celebrity (called a semi-determinate by some), and Marglobe.

Indeterminate Tomatoes will grow into vines and produce fruit until killed by frost. They can reach heights of up to 12 feet although 6 feet is normal. Indeterminates will bloom, set new fruit and ripen fruit all at the same time throughout the season. They require substantial staking for support.

So what is your choice?  The answer to that is why do you grow tomatoes?  If you can tomatoes, or makes sauces and salsa’s then Determinate tomatoes are probably your best choice because you will have a good quantity all at the same time.  If you like to have tomatoes to eat throughout the whole summer season right up until frost then indeterminate is probably your best choice.  Examples are: Big Boy,  most “cherry” types, Early Girl, and most heirloom varieties.

Or simply plant a supply of both.