Did you get more rain than usual this year or water more?

Rodney

I got a less rain than last year and I only watered a few times. I actually neglected them more than I normally do, due to time constraints from working too many hours at my job.

I probably had too much rain last year and cooler than normal temps. Before that we had years of drought conditions and I watered 1 1/2" once a week.

If you only use four or five seeds out of a packet of mixed bell pepper seeds, you may have come up with completely different varieties of peppers this year too. ;-)

I think your plants got just the right amount of nitrogen, pulsed at the right times. Crimson clover can produce 150 lb N per acre, so with two years under crimson clover let's say you hit 225 lb N per acre, with much of that held in safe reserve by the soil. This is pretty much the ideal level for peppers, plus you added more, a good move in a warm climate with a long growing season.

Additionally, you probably got a flush of bioactive N from the clover residue in early summer, when the soil warmed up. Extra N provided while the fruits are small gives you big, thick-walled peppers.

Here is a link that might be useful: N levels for peppers

I think you are probably right planatus.