Delay transplanting of bell peppers sand eggplants until the weather has warmed considerably. These vegetables are sensitive to cold soils and weather. Once stunted by cool weather, they recover slowly. Space peppers about 12 -18 inches and eggplants about 18-24 inches.

Theses non-hybrid varieties are recommended: Resistant Giant No. 4, Capistrano, Jupiter, Purple Beauty, and Yolo Wonder B.

Bell hybrids for Louisiana are Merlin, Sentry Enterpirze Boynton Bell, and the large King Arthur. Bell Boy and the piquant Mexibell hybrids are AAS winners. For a yellow bell, try the Goldcoast or Summer Sweet 860 hybrids. For a mature red bell, try Camelot (X3R), or Summer Sweet 862R, Gypsy, Dutch Treat , Cubanelle, and Aconcagua are not bell-shaped but are sweet.

Recommended eggplant varieties are Blacknite (hybrid) Classic (hybrid) Blackbell (hybrid), Epic (hybrid),Dusky (hybrid), Hibush (hybrid) or Black Magic(hybrid).

The green eggplant varieties produce well in Louisiana and are less bitter than the purple varieties during the hot, dry weather. Seed and plants are not always available, however. The Louisiana Market Bulletin is a fairly good source for green eggplant seed and other hard-to-find vegetable seeds and plants.