Name: Sandy B. Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b) (Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Tom, my guess would be that the soil was warmer in the containers than in the ground. I've found that peppers grow well in containers for me, too -- unlike tomatoes, which I've never had much success with growing in pots (other than small "patio" types).
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer C/F temp conversion
