Garden Doctors: Peppers love heat

George writes: Each year I plant different varieties of peppers and it is strange that the ones planted in the ground never do as well as those planted in 15-gallon black containers filled with potting soil.

They all receive full sun for most of the day and the native soil has been amended with compost. And they are all planted, containers included, within the same area. They are all on the same drip system. Why do you think there is a difference in the plants’ performance?

Peppers prefer constant heat, good drainage, regular moisture and fertile soil. The potting soil you are using may be the type that has a slow-release fertilizer and water-retaining crystals and thus has excellent drainage. What may be the difference in performance is the heavy black container that holds the heat and transfers that extra heat to the roots. This may be a reason in the future to plant all your peppers in the containers.

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Anna asks: I was driving along Franklin Street in Santa Rosa and saw a front yard that was covered with a yellow daisy. It appeared as though it was planted as a turf replacement and was very attractive. Would you happen to know the name of the ground cover?

The plant is commonly called African daisy or silver arctotis, and botanically known as Arctotis stoechadifolia; it is native to dry stony slopes in southern Africa.

This sprawling perennial with gray, woolly-appearing leaves and yellow, daisy-like blooms will flower during the warm summer months and is often planted as a coastal sand-stabilizing plant. The down side of planting arctotis is it can become invasive and can smother other desirable plants. Planted as a drought- tolerant ground cover in a confined area, it is colorful, tough and can’t be hurt by walking on it occasionally. Some gardeners have planted it so it will cascade over artistically placed rocks and thereby add a little dimension to a flat landscape. It will benefit from being planted in soil that drains well; however, I have seen arctoctis thrive in hard soils that seldom receive any moisture.

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June writes: As a small child I remember my grandmother growing mignonette in a small area by the back door. The scent was heavenly during the warm summer months. I can’t seem to find this plant in the nurseries.

You probably haven’t had any success finding the plant because the flowers are not especially attractive. It is a herbaceous plant with spikes of small, fragrant, greenish flowers that grow in tight clusters and is always admired for its scent. Nurseries usually carry plants that have showy splashes of colors and sell well or there are those nurseries that have an area designated for fragrant plants and other specialty items. The famous Rosarian, Rayford Redell, compared the fragrance to that of “violets with overtones of honey” and I guess that says it all.

Your best bet would be to try setting out purchased seed when the soil is warm (soon) and the planting site has a sunny south or west exposure. The soil can be on the poor side. The seeds should have very little soil sprinkled on top of them since they do require light to germinate successfully. The fragrant blooms will continue summer through fall. Mignonette will reach a height of 1 – 2 feet and a width of 9 inches. I like the idea of starting seeds in pots and then placing the pots by the entryways for a heavenly fragrance impact. Fertilize lightly during the growing season.

When ordering seeds, look for the botanical name of Reseda odorata and/or the common name, mignonette. Interestingly enough, this same plant has an interesting history: It is said that Napoleon gave it to his wife, Josephine. (A bit of trivia.) Reseda alba has little to no fragrance. Look online for seed sources; there are several to choose from. However, oftentimes hybrids lack an intense fragrance, so check out the description before ordering.

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Thoughts on appropriate drought landscaping: Lafayette landscape architect Russell Beatty, an advocate of “appropriate horticulture,” points to early Californians as setting an example of what we could follow as we develop our drought-tolerant landscapes: “The California mission fathers adapted their buildings and the grounds to match the arid climate of the surrounding landscapes,” he wrote. “Gardens of the early missions were usually walled patios with hard-packed earth underfoot, a leafy shade tree, simple plantings and a well or fountain in the middle to provide the cooling sounds of water.”

Dana Lozano and Gwen Kilchherr are garden consultants. Send your gardening questions to The Garden Doctors, at pdgardendoctor@gmail.com. The Garden Doctors can answer questions only through their column, which appears twice a month in the newspaper and online at pressdemocrat.com.