You are comparing two different things, growing in the ground and growing in containers. They aren't comparable. Have you fertilized the one in the ground? That could be one reason why they are different sizes. The difference in flavor and smell could possibly be contributed to the fact that containers need watered more often than in ground plants. More water equals more diluted flavor/smell. This is just a theory with basil though. The fact that the plants receive a different amount of sun also factors into the differences between plants. Rodney

Bamboo Rabbit is right about the cilantro dying off now due to the heat. If it has gone to seed it will show up again in the fall when it's cooler. There is another herb, culantro, that is supposed to take our summer heat, but I didn't care for it as much. You might want to try it though. :o)

I get aphids on my plants from time to time. They come in various colors, from the most common green color, like yours, to black or a mustard-yellow colored one. I always just squish 'em with my fingers and hose off. I'm most likely to get aphids if there is excessive water in the soil, either from early spring rains, or if I've watered too much. Usually I do that (overwater) if we've had a sudden heat wave, like a 25 degree temp jump in a short period, like 48 hrs, and I've misjudged on watering needs. This means that when you are hosing off the squished aphids, you have to take care not to keep the soil too wet, so I don't hose 'em off every day, or in some way I try to avoid soaking the soil more than the plants' roots prefer. (Most like the surface of the soil dry down 3/4 " or so, that's about 1 knuckle down, at least, before watering.) Basil, in particular, can suddenly take to wilting and dying if overwatered. I've had aphids appear on chives for the same reason. Hope this helps.

For fertilizer, I don't believe so for the peppers. I put a bit of bone and blood meal on the soil Monday, but none should have hit the leaves. Sun kind of depends. We have had a lot of clouds the last couple of weeks, but otherwise should have full sun. It's odd how the peppers' leaves are also misshapen, and I read elsewhere it could be too much nitrogen. Maybe from the meal? I barely sprinkled, but I don't know if that explains the coloration. Thanks for all the replies so far :)