Photograph by Shari Kaplan

Pots and Pansies: Pansies, which come in solid and multicolored varieties, are popular and attractive cool season annuals.




Now is the time to plant some cool season annuals

By Tony Tomeo

When I was in college, I did not enjoy most of my lectures. Those that were most "relevant" to horticulture, such as psychophysiology and Russian literature, were particularly frustrating. Of course, now that I've been out of college for 10 years, I miss the many lectures that were useful and interesting.

Fortunately, organizations such as the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County often present lectures of interest to garden enthusiasts. In fact, on Oct. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m., noted environmental author Steven Buckmann presents a lecture on the importance of pollinators and pollination. Buckmann represents the Forgotten Pollinators Campaign, a multimedia effort to bring international attention to the critical importance of pollination to maintain healthy ecosystems and provide food for human populations.

The lecture is at the Campbell Community Center, 1 W. Campbell Ave. in Campbell. It is free and open to the public. Parking is also free. For more information, call 408.299.2638. I find this subject intriguing and plan to attend.

This is actually a good time of year for this lecture, since gardening becomes less demanding in autumn. This does not mean there is little to do--just that things aren't as rushed as they are during summer, when everything grows so quickly and needs immediate attention.

With rain and cooler temperatures, irrigation should be minimized. Even if temperatures are warm and some plants continue activity; the days are shorter. There is less time for moisture loss through evapotranspiration. Of course, species that defoliate do not lose moisture to transpiration and only require enough moisture in the soil to keep roots from desiccating. Such minimal moisture is usually provided by rain.

In the spring, I usually do not write about bulbs because they are mostly planted in autumn. However, it still seems odd to discuss spring-blooming flowers now. Generally, earlier planted bulbs are the first to bloom in spring. Although bulbs as well as corms, tubers, rhizomes and tuberous roots are all considered perennials, many only bloom once and should be treated as annuals. Tulips are an example of bulbs that perform very well the first year they are planted, but only produce foliage the second year, if they survive at all. Winters here just are not cold enough to keep them happy.

Other bulbs and bulb-like plants may naturalize and grow well on their own once they become established. In my mother's garden, I have been trying for years to kill crocosmia that I planted in the early 1980s. Some muscari that were "eliminated" shortly after 1976 have recently started growing through the lawn! If one actually wants bulbs to naturalize, other good choices include freesia, African corn lily, narcissus and harlequin flower.

Bulbs usually appear in nurseries during the season they should be planted. Tulips and daffodils arrive early, with summer bloomers arriving later. If planted too early, they may bloom out of season.

Cool season annuals for autumn are actually classified as winter annuals. Many prefer to be planted early so they can get established while the weather is still reasonably warm. Calendula, candytuft, sweet alyssum and Iceland poppy continue to bloom well in cool weather, but do not grow much if planted too late. Violas and pansies are a bit more sensitive to heat and timing is more critical.

The various primroses are actually perennials commonly used as cool season annuals. What many garden enthusiasts are not aware of about primroses is that they are very toxic to certain individuals. They may cause skin irritation similar to poison oak. Many people experience the irritation with no idea of what caused it and may continue to garden with primroses. (Grevilleas may do the same.) The rash may be quite serious. I should know--primroses are one of the few species that really don't like me.

Flower of the Week: Pansy

Pansies, Viola wittrockiana, are probably the most popular of the cool season annuals. The colors range from white, orange (apricot), yellow, blue, purple, burgundy, rose and red. The two- to four-inch-wide flowers may be solid, striped or blotched. Plants usually only get about six inches tall, but are very showy when planted in mass. Pansies prefer rich soil and regular irrigation. They may be damaged if allowed to dry out or exposed to heat or reflected glare. Although they may be grown from seed, they are most easily grown from "cell packs," which are commonly available this time of year.

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Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574.

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