I think there may be a variety of factors going on. The store bought plants might not have been treated well before you purchased them. The locally grown bitter peppers might be better acclimated to your local area and have a better growth habit because of it, and the fruits aren't as good simply because it's a variety of pepper that doesn't have as good a fruit as others. You might have had some good luck with the seeds you got out of that one pepper- sometimes the seeds out of the commercial ones don't do well.

Agree there are far too many unknown variables in your question to even guess at why. In addition to all the possibles beesneeds listed there are hybrid vs. open pollinated issues, hybrid reversions to parent stock, umpteen different germination and growing variables involved, and lots of anecdotal info.

As to why "most people said I probably wouldn’t get anything out of them" they likely meant you'd get plants but plants of unknown stock and quality. That's because 90% of the time the store-bought are unstable hybrids and their seeds, when grown, are throw-backs to the multiple-parent stock used to create them. That parent stock is often an undesirable variety itself.

Dave

How many Sweet Bell pepper varieties are there? Which ones are favored for commercial use?

I’m surprised I’m having so much success with these, and difficulty sprouting the cheaper ones. The sweet bell peppers go for about $1.20 per seedling. And as I mentioned they didn’t grow as well as my own.

There's a LOT of varieties of sweet peppers, and probably at least a dozen or two kinds popular for commercial use.

And again, there are a lot of different variables as to why things are doing well or not for you. If you could tell us in detail exactly everything you are doing from initial fruit purchase, seed gathering and through your entire process of growing, and also tell us in detail what the local plant dealer is doing and all of their processes and handling, that would be helpful. Otherwise it's just guessing at a lot of variables.

That makes it a bit clearer, thanks farmerdill

I don't have an answer, but I have also had terrible results with garden center seedlings. Growing a reliable variety from seed is the only way I will grow peppers... and they are probably my favorite thing to grow.