One of the best sites for both tomatoes and peppers is Tomato Growers Supply Company. They don't just stock heirlooms though, and have hundreds to choose from. Perhaps a little less daunting would be Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, with lots of other things besides tomatoes and peppers, or The Victory Seed Company.
Hope this helps.

I'd also start reading the Tomato Forum here at G W, link at the top of this first page.

Sweet peppers are usually discussed in the Vegetable Forum and hot peppers have a forum all to their own. But most of the tomato growers also grow peppers of all kinds.

Looking at websites/catalogs is fine, b/c it gives you an idea of the possibilities, but reading the various Forums also gives you info about how well a lot of varieties do.

if you have specific questions abou t specific varieties, the best place to ask questions is in the various forums I mentioned above, not in this Heirloom Forum, which has few er folks who read here and also in primarily a place to locate specific varieties, usually long lost ones, as you can see by the various threads.

Hope that helps.

Carolyn, who notes that if i t's just a few plants you need perhaps you might start thinking about places to buy plants instead of raising from seed. And there are threads in the tomato forum about that, jsut use the sear ch feature at the vottom of the first page, or ask directly with your own thread if you can't find those threads with links to where one can buy plants and have them shipped.

I watched the exchanges carefully and within six months I have aquired over 70 varieties of tomatoes-all free from other gardenweb members.

Click on the Exchange forum at the top of the tomato or veggie forum. Then post a wish for what you want. People usually give very kindly to beginners. Then you can start trading if you want more things.

Also, you can start reading and learning about them. There are SO many more types of veggies and fruits than we normally see on the store shelf, because the store is all for long lasting, and uniformity, not taste!

i really like the William Woys Weaver book about heirlooms because im interested in strange roots, but ive heard some criticism about his accuracy. Ive read a few other books from Half Price. Ordering paper cataloges or printing out online ones is a great reference too.

AND! the best thing, is if youre interested, you can save the seeds from the things you raise, and theyll be true next year provided they did not get crossed!

Don't wait until you know everything. :- )

Jump right in. After all, it's just a hobby. You can't go too far wrong. Your idea of a small salsa garden of tomatoes and peppers sounds perfect for starters. Include a few basil and cilantro plants.

Jim