Rob Johnston Jr., owner of Johnny's seeds, is frequent writer and consultant to Organic Gardening. Stokes Seeds has been selling seeds for 118 years. I would say a reputable source of info. In both of their catalogs in the growers guides they say for peppers LOW nitogren. Side dress once or twice per SEASON My County Agent says "Starve peppers" Lets take a look at Nitrogen level's, in my area, I can find a low of 1 and a high of 31, except some organic urea of 45. When I went to school, on a scale of 1 to 31, a 5 would be a low, a 15 would be a medium a 20 would be a medium high With a low of 1 and a high of 31 I would put Miracle Gro as a medium nitrogen level, not a low. Lets look at some of the problems. Pinetree Gardens advocates Miracale Gro, They say they get 10 habs per plant. ( I averaged of 40 in the worst growing season in 100 years) Ray Kaspro Uses a folar feed of 27-15-12, Has 4 1/2 ft Red Savina's with no fruit and 7ft Rocoto's with a few cool fruits A tomato grower I chatted with said he tried Miracale Gro on tomatoes by the instructions 100% every 2 weeks. Had 7ft Early Girls with 3 small fruit per plant. I have chatted with about 20 others that have had similar problems There has to be something wrong. While I am at it for those that flame me for using mouthwash to control bacterial infections, look at the last ingredient on a box of Miracle Gro, Miracid and Fish emulsion. That ingredient is chlorine. (which by the way, I had 5 different "Master Gardeners" tell me I could not use on plants) I have tried hi-Nitro's in my garden, I hate them. My personal opinion of Scotts fertilizers are to sell products, not to really grow veggie gardens with. If anyone on this list is interested I have a file with all the problems I have had with hi-nitrogen fertilizers. If anyone wants to read it give me a non-posted click. Because it isn't chile's What is also forgotten is that the origin of peppers is from very poor soil. What I would like to ask you folks is to try a few plants this way Mix some epsom salts, 1 tbsp per gal of water At transplanting add 1/3 cup of 5-20-20 and 1 pint of epsom salts, and 1 tbsp of 0-20-0 super phosphate per plant At 1st fruit set repeat. Do not feed again for the rest of the season 5-20-20 is a granular fertilizer, here it $7 for 50lb Epsom salts at Walmart is $1.29 My 0-20-0 cost $6.99 for 5 lb Why epsom salts ? Plants actually need a little more magnisium than potasium. So far I have not seen magnisium in any commercial fertilizer. RE Reader Digest "Organic Gardening " The best way to learn is to spend the "Tuition money" and do it yourself. I am only asking you to try it on 2 or 3 plants. Just do it with the same variety that you feed Miracle Gro to. At the end of your growing season, compare and get back to me with your results. Here is a few comparisons 1 Plant habit: Example a SB should be 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall about the same diameter Do your plants stand up straight ? Excessive height is caused by excessive nitrogen Weak stalk/stems are caused by excessive nitrogen 2. Blossom drop at temps above 50F and below 85F Blossom drop in this range is excessive nitrogen --Every blossom that drops is one less pod.-- 3. Pods per plant IE SB and Habs should have between 40 to 60 pods per plant Low pod count is caused by excessive nitrogen 4. Pod heat, which pods are hotter ?? Low heat is caused by excessive nitrogen. Personaly I think that anyone recommending 15-30-15 or 20-20-20 to a newbie to grow peppers with, is recieving extra funds from Scotts EG Kick backs Byron