Question
I read somewhere pepper plants & tomato plants should not be planted in the same area. Is this true?

Answer
Judy, I would not recommend planting Chile or jalepeno peppers near tomatoes since they can cause bitterness in the tomatoes, but regular bell peppers will have no adverse affect.

Keep in mind that peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant are all part of the nightshade family. I grow all three in the same area of the garden, and they grow just fine. The nice thing about keeping them in close proximity is that they require the same type of care, especially in regard to fertilizers. All three require a fertilizer high in phosphorus to promote ample blooming and larger fruit. Stay away from fertilizers high in nitrogen, as these tend to promote lush foliage at the expense of blooming.

Also, peppers and tomatoes are warm weather crops. They prefer dry feet, meaning they like the soil to dry out between watering. Both plants require 1.5" of water per week.

As with all vegetable plants, you should rotate the different family of crops to other areas of the garden each year. This will prevent soilborne diseases from infecting the plants.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike