My containers were acquired from a local restaurant for free. They are the 5 gal size. In mid June I gathered these containers, punched holes in the bottom and filled with a mix of 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 peat moss. This mixture is full of nutrients and is light so the roots don't get too compacted. Peppers like warm weather so I didn't buy my plants too early, mid to late June here in zone 6. I placed them in a southern facing spot in my backyard and let mother nature do her thing. I kept them moist but not too wet. Peppers don't like too much moisture.
Unfortunately, like most gardeners this season, the heat was a bit overwhelming for all of my garden veggies and I noticed that they stopped producing blossoms during this time period. Why? Well, with some research, I learned that the plant can not support new blossoms when it is in distress so it "drops" the blossoms to preserve itself. Kind of neat the way that happens. Anyway, most of us want to keep watering when this happens but that's not going to help a plant that is wilting from the heat. So I decided to cover my container plants with a makeshift canopy of linens and bamboo stakes. Believe it or not, just protecting them from the midday sun helped tremendously.
My plants produced an average of 6-12 peppers over the growing season. Last season I kept them in a plastic hoop house through the fall and was able to pick until mid November. Peppers don't like temperatures below 60 degrees. If you provide a sheltered spot or bring them inside, you could have peppers well into the winter!
Happy Gardening
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