Hey Sharon! I am in zone 5b also (Denver/Boulder area) and have had wonderful success with peppers in containers. In a 15-gallon container of any kind, you should have no problem growing two pepper plants - truthfully, depending on the variety, you could likely grow up to 4. Last year I used 5-gallon self-watering buckets ("global buckets") and this year I added some Earthboxes to the mix. I like to keep more robust pepper varieties such as bells and large Italian sweet peppers (marconi, carmen) to one per 5-gallon bucket. For the smaller varieties including banana peppers, jalapanos, yummy snacking, etc., I have had no problems with two plants per 5-gallon bucket. I do space them about 6" apart toward the edges of the buckets so there is breathing room and they fill in nicely. I also stake and/or cage them because they become absolutely loaded with peppers. Obviously, the size of the fruit does not necessarily relate to the size of the plant, so bear that in mind when planting. I've just found that the larger fruited peppers themselves need more space to breathe than the foliage does, so that's where my consideration plays in. I also consider that my plants can be closer together because of the very dry climate and seemingly endless breeziness. Humidity is not an issue and plants don't need as much air circulation (at least for me). Regarding the Earthboxes, they're probably around 20 gallons and can handle 6 pepper plants spaced at about 6-8". I transplanted on May 18, 2014 and all of my pepper plants, buckets and Earthboxes, are thriving. I've included a pic below that shows two pepper buckets and one Earthbox - the bucket on left contains two banana pepper plants and the one on the right contains one giant marconi pepper plant. The Earthbox contains 3 banana peppers across the back and 3 giant marconis across the front nearest the buckets.

Do you know when your first fall frost comes? Find that date and start fall broccoli about 16-17 weeks before that date. What kind of soil prep have you done? That spot looks pretty barren and not very nutritious to plants. Have you grown anything in that spot before? To fight high temps, as well as harden plants off, I use that green plastic woven mesh shadecloth, it's around $15 for a piece around 6.5x13ft. I bought mine from leevalley.com. You may need to provide protection and water frequently to protect from wilting. Your hardened cole crops look ok, when you plant them, cover with the shade cloth (held up above the plants with sticks or something) and keep them covered during hot days and keep the soil moist. In the meantime, get practice with the hardened plants and start a fall crop 15-17 weeks before your first fall frost. Make sure your beds are well ammended with compost, good soil or composted manure, etc.

I do have Miracle Gro and was using that until I got the Neptune's Harvest about three months ago. I could start using it again, but frankly I didn't see any real difference. I figured it would be okay to use it until it's gone, because now that it's bought it's going into the environment no matter what I do with it, no matter whether it gets dumped on my garden, down the drain, or in a landfill. But I really thought that Neptune's Harvest would be better all around. Not only gentler but more effective than Miracle-Gro. They also have fertilizer specifically for tomatoes. The tomatoes are in containers. I could either put them on the porch next to the house, or I could carry them inside. They're rather heavy, though, and it might be a problem keeping the cats off them. (The cats actually outnumber the tomato plants.) I could also move them to where they could get more sun. I have a shed, but I don't know how much protection that would be, and they'd get no light. I have a cold frame that I still have to put together. I could put that over the melons and maybe add a week or two. It's doubtful that would be enough, but who knows, I may luck out. Broccoli can freeze solid and still survive, although if it's frozen it can't grow. But brassica are hardy enough that I might actually get something this year. The potatoes were a little late going in, but not more than a week or two. I'm sure I'll get potatoes this year. The zukes and maters are iffy, but with luck and some protection, I wouldn't rule them out. It's possible I could get a couple. The melons...well, it's kind of a matter of pride now. I'll keep them going for as long as I can, and if nothing else, that'll teach me what the hot hats and cold frame can do.

Digit, I live close to the base of the mountains, a couple of miles. And yes, the flowering cherries, bulbs, iris....all were blooming at different times within "blocks". While the flowering cherries had lost their blossoms for leaves around my neighborhood, a mile or less away they were just beginning to bloom. I kept driving around to take photos and continued to miss the full bloom period. Nothing seemd to be cooperating with me. Why do I think the bloom period is different? Nothing scientific, but perhaps due to the mountain affect. Snow/rain can be predicted and it seems to skirt past this part of town. So, less water? Not that we don't get it, just less than other areas a couple miles away. Sunlight? I don't have an answer to any of this. Of course my curiosty remains. I think we have had an odd couple of springs weather wise. Since I just moved here I don't know if the above is the norm. The news a couple of days ago did say our plants/trees were a bit confused this year. Too much water for some, specifically the xeriscape plants which need to be watched for root rot. Others taking off growth wise and taking over requiring more care of plants which now are in a different environment. From last spring to now, the sunny area for my veg. garden is half shade...success may be on the iffy side. Even my patio which was full sun has no need for unbrellas since the trees are loaded with growth and bushes are bounding. On the other hand, I still need the umbrellas as there are double the number of birds around too and they like to muck up the furniture flying about. AS for my "real" water. You guys just won't leave me alone...this mind wanders. Not "wonders", rambles off on trails of thought or not enough sleep hours.