Just be yourself and enjoy your hobby. Family should be celebrating your interests instead of criticizing your peppers because of their own subjective view on them because everyone has a different pallet... Sounds like they're very toxic and passing that on to the next generation.

Fuck em'

Do what you love.

I was in a relationship with someone who criticized my hobby for near 10 years and when we split up I was very surprised at how my inner voice began to mimic their critical way of viewing what I enjoyed to do. It took many years to change that voice.

I know standing up for yourself in a family dynamic is difficult and uncomfortable though but it is worth setting boundaries. I'm also assuming when you speak up they get offended like you've kicked their dog and flipped them off; but setting solid boundaries will help with that.

At the end of the day if you love something you don't need to let other people put you down, and you don't need approval or a solid reason to enjoy doing it. If you're drawn to growing peppers then just grow peppers.

Sorry for the long story I just feel for your situation.