probably nothing... have patience...do they have blossoms?

Gee, 3-foot peppers without blossoms and fruit formation is unusual, at least in my experience. I don't think I've ever had peppers get beyond 6" without starting to form flower buds. In fact, I don't think I've ever had peppers get to 3 feet, but then I have a short growing season when it comes to the heat lovers.

Could you have given them too much nitrogen, and are they in full sun?

It seems your garden soil has excessive N.

What variety? some bear fruit at a foot tall, some go to seven feet.

biscgolf ---very few blossoms

Lelia----No fertlizer at all. Full sun against the house foundation

Chaman----I don't know where it would come from I only added in my compost.. a test is in order I guess.
Farmerdill---California Wonder and Burpee Big Bell or something like that. Burpee Better bell maybe

Both of those varieties can reach 3 feet. They may need a little phosphate, something like Bloom Booster for a fast foliar feed or bone meal when planning ahead for next year. These should start blooming about two months from your transplant date, green peppers at about 75 days, red ripe at about 90 days. Might be all you need is patience, unless you had something like chicken manure in your compost. Nitrogen has to be balanced by the other micro-nutrients.
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Thanks Farmerdill thats all good info to have.

Bell peppers tend to be shy producers, even in our hot and humid summer. If you want just sweet peppers, I'd suggest something like Carmen. My Carmen plants are always loaded with fruits from end of June to first frost. My bell peppers will produce maybe 8 fruits a year at most in comparison. Carmen is large and very sweet. We eat it raw or grilled.

I definitely would add phosphorous and potassium. If you have 3 ft tall plants, you are not short on nitrogen. The lack of blossoms is an indication that you are missing the other elements.

i agree with ikea... there is no application for which carmen (or italia or marconi's or other larger sweet italian varieties) are not superior to bells and more prolific to boot...

also in agreement regarding "P' and "K"