Eggplants wait for cooler weather

Q. I have an eggplant plant growing in my garden with lots of flowers on the plants but no eggplants. Please tell me if I can do anything to get some eggplants. -- J.M.

A. Wait for cooler weather. When temperatures reach the mid-'90s during the day and mid-'70s at night, eggplant pollination becomes less certain, resulting in flowers that drop off before they produce baby eggplants. One way to beat the effects of excessive heat is to artificially pollinate the flowers with a blossom set spray. An artificial pollinator that works on eggplants is available. Check with your local garden center to see if it's stocked. Online, Burpee (www.burpee.com) and Gardens Alive! (www.gardensalive.com) have it.

Q. I would like information as to where the Japanese Painted Fern can be purchased in the Brevard area. Also, any ideas for perennials suited for a garden area that receives some direct sun in the later afternoon?

A. Despite their name and exotic appearances, Japanese painted ferns (Athyrium niponicum "Pictum") shouldn't be that hard to find. These botanical beauties adapt so well to Southeastern conditions that many commercial growers propagate them. If local nurseries don't have them, check the cultivars available from Crownsville Nursery (www.crownsvillenursery.com) in Strasburg, Va.

As for sun-loving perennials, these consistently perform well for me: hollyhocks, goldenrod, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), lantana, gaillardia, asters, dianthus, Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria), statice, ice plant (Delosperma cooperi), yarrow, soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), artemisia, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa), and any of the many verbenas as well as perennial sages.

Q. A big portion of my yard has been invaded by Japanese stilt grass. I have been pulling it out from the cultivated area, but it gets into everything! I would prefer not to use chemicals. Is there something I could do to get rid of this weed without damaging the environment? -- C.G.

A. Good news and bad news. The good news is that Microstegium vimineum is an annual plant, so your current unwanted crop will go away with the first frosts. The bad news: Japanese stilt grass reseeds like it wants to be the last plant on the planet. Not only does it produce copious seeds (up to 1,000 per plant), but seeds can remain viable in the soil for years.

Start pulling, mowing, weed-whacking this invasive grass. Gardeners who don't mind killing chemicals will find a glyphosate-based herbicide very useful. Now is a critical time because this weed goes to seed through September.

A good strategy against the seeds is to start in the late winter with a corn gluten-based, pre-emergent herbicide. Pre-emergent herbicides used to control crabgrass have been found to be very effective. Or prevent seeds from germinating by placing weed-block fabric over the infested area, then adding a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch. Any bits of stilt grass that pop up should be pulled, whacked or sprayed. Keep this regimen going through the growing season, and be vigilant late in the summer before it goes to seed. Continue this routine for four to five years, and if your neighbors don't have Japanese stilt grass, the threat from this invader might wane.