I use stakes made from PVC pipe. They're cheap and last forever.

Rodney

I have a bunch of old ski poles that I use. Being mostly fiberglass or composite. They never corrode or degrade.

Depending on the variety, I can cage'em in 6" remesh. Wind is the main enemy of large pepper bushes, especially when they're loaded down. A t-post driven next to the plant with a loop of soft string or clothesline will hold them up.

Determinate tomatoes have a stockier build and stronger stems than indeterminate varieties that continue to grow throughout the season. Tree habs need support because they can reach 10-12' tall...

I stake all of my plants. The shorter ones get wood dowels. Taller ones get thick bamboo poles. I also use tomato cages as well. The bamboo poles are to give more support in the event that the plant out grows the cage. The cage helps to keep branches supported when they get heavy with lots of pods. I lost 4 good branches with 5 huge bells on them last year. Though the green ones did make great stuffed peppers.

All very good ideas, folks.
I like the bamboo, especially if you can cut them down for free.
PVC is also good idea : It is inexpensive, will last and last.

I rip mine from cedar lumber, as I do for tomatoes.
Cheap smallest tomato cages costing under $3 is yet another way. But I have not done that. I personally don't like storing cages off season time.

How about weaving ? This of course make sense if you plant a lot in row..

let hear more. BTW get your support material ready. The season is getting closer and for people like Nate , it has already arrived. I have about another 6 weeks to stay lazy. haha

Seysonn.

I use fallen branches of oak, maple, and fruit woods- I have a lot of trees on my property to get appropriate pieces from deadfall. Some pieces work good as stakes, other pieces are Y branches and act as "crutches" for branches. For me getting support material is just a matter of walking into the back woods and picking up what I want to use.

This year I'm planning on using some of the tomato cages I have sitting around as well to see how I like using them. This year a bunch of my tomatoes are big Int's that I'm going to trellis to a section of fence, so I will have extra cages on hand to see how I like using them.

BeesNeeds, good idea.
I have done that. Years ago my garden was surrounded by oaks, hickory, maples, cherry ...And I used branches from the trees that I had previously cut down for firewood. Those were perfect for supporting pepper plants

Seysonn

I like the free bamboo. My wife works for a property mgmnt. company. One of the rental properties they manage was infested with bamboo. There was nowhere to walk in the back yard at all. I had to use a chain saw to cut though a path. It was so dense I was not going to overwork myself with a machete cutting it out. The house had been vacant for a long time, and the previous owner had planted them. Then the property was vacant for 4 years. No one ever cut the back yard. The neighbor would cut the front lawn when they mowed their own. So it took over the yard. I have quite a few of the poles left from last year to last me though.

I got to keep all I wanted. This year if I want some I am sure the property owner will be more than happy to let me clear it out again.

You know those idiotic things they sell as "tomato cages," somewhat cone shaped, only 3 or 4 ft tall when the wires are pressed into the ground, a little more than a foot across at the top - I use those for peppers and eggplants. Yes, some varieties of peppers reach above those, but not significantly. I've used them for many, many years - some I've been using for 30 years, and they are reliable and stand well to winds, etc. No complaints.

I stake with "bamboo" sticks sold at Home Depot. They are about 6' long, I cut in two and use that way. Dirt cheap - $5 for 8 of them.

Yeah. If I wanted to spend some money, I would buy and use them cheap small tomato cages ( $2.50 ?). Bamboo is the best if you cut cut them for free.
I mostly use pieces of ripped cedar lumber that I use for for making raised beds, planters.. I Get them On clearance (70% off) from HD.

Seysonn