I would use the soaker hose. As far as fertilizing, depends on your ground's fertility. I don't fertilize after planting in the fields, but others do. I do add a long acting fertilizer when I plant.

I have found peppers not too prone to disease. I always watered cucurbits and tomatoes on the ground but this will be my first year watering everything, including peppers, from the ground. Peppers are one crop that actually like heat and humidity- maybe corn too.

Do not overfertilize peppers! Especially go easy on nitrogen. I give all my solanaceous crops a dilluted molasses feeding. Molasses is cheap from the feed store.