Question
first year with garden - cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, doing fine.  bell peppers grow to 10-11", start growing fruit, then wilt and die.  Lost almost all of my pepper plants -- maybe 4 or 5 left (4-5" tall).  Put cover over garden to reduce sun (full sun area) seemed to help and then same problem.  ph meeter reads upper 6 to 7.

Answer
Terry, it sounds like your pepper plants contracted a soilborne disease. Once this occurs, they cannot be saved.

I would recommend planting hybrids that are resistant to disease. You can find examples of these in many gardening catalogs. The two from which I purchase seed are Burpee and Park Seed. Both companies offer free catalogs and give great descriptions on growth habits and disease resistance. I've attached their links below.

Once you choose a particular variety, here are some growing tips for peppers:

1. Always grow pepper plants in soil supplemented with organic matter such as peat, aged manure, and compost. Organic soil provides a constant source of nutrients and helps deter insects and disease.
2. Do not overwater. Peppers hate "wet feet". Excess water retention saturates the roots making it impossible for the plants to absorb oxygen and nutrients.
3. After acclimating new seedlings to the outdoors for one week prior to transplanting, make sure they are planted in full sun. Peppers need a minimum of 8 hours of sun per day.
4. Mulch the plants with straw or shredded leaves to help retain moisture and cool the soil.
5. Fertilize the plants three times with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer; the first time two weeks following transplanting; again once the plant begins to bloom; and one last time after the first harvest. Avoid fertilizers high in nitrogen since these tend to promote lush foliage at the expense of blooming.
6. If disease has been an issue, spray the plants every 10 days with a copper-based fungicide. I use a product called Soap Shield from Gardens Alive.

http://www.parkseed.com
http://www.burpee.com
http://www.gardensalive.com

I hope this information helps. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike