I have had peanuts in the irrigation ditch for the peppers. Peanuts drink water, and more water, and when you eat the peanuts, you want water, and more water.
it really is amazing how generally less nutrition soil produces better quality.
Every plant wants its soil. Dark, fertile lowlands, are good for foliage, have enough nitrogen.
Red soils burn the manure in any weeks, too much calcium, and are good for sweet potato, and fruits, very bad for foliage, and during the summer daily water required.
The white soil, "albarizo" is good for wine.
That in Spain, not sure in your countries. :-D
Have you thought about using a long handled pruning shears to snip those oranges at the top?
I have thought on stilts.