Q. Mealy bugs and termites have destroyed much of my beautiful garden and I am at my wits end. My garden is large with many fruit trees such as chico, sharifa, fig, lemon, papaya and I had flower beds too. I pleaded with people for camel bones at qurbani time but these bones did not stop the termites. I tried planting lemon grass as someone said that this would work: it didn’t. I paid a high amount to a professional person, sprayed pesticides myself and have tried everything suggested but nothing has had any effect on these two pests. Three mature coconut trees have died, so have my huge lemon trees, flowers have died and when the papaya is beginning to fruit, the mealy bugs eat them. I have changed half the soil, have tried neem water and neem leaves but the pests refuse to leave my garden. All that is left is to cement the whole area and have a few pot plants but my garden is my passion. Please help.

A. Professional termite control using chemical sprays can actually result in increased termite numbers. These sprays also eradicate natural termite predators such as earth worms, beetles and ants, thus totally ‘unbalancing’ the garden and all it contains as does the use of any other chemical spray, for whatever purpose, too.

Eradicating termites is a difficult task which cannot be accomplished overnight. It takes time, patience and hard work. Organic solutions include repeated applications of water soluble borax which is a natural salt. The ratio of water to borax will depend on the strength of borax and details should be on the packet. Borax is non-toxic to humans and animals / birds, but you must be careful that this salt does not build up in the soil too much as it could then affect plant growth. Earthworms eat termite larvae and are good for the soil anyway so perhaps you can look into ‘Vermiculture’ and establish an earthworm farm to increase their number in your garden. Locating, then digging up, termite nests and removing their queen stops them from breeding.

Organic pest control might seem like an oxymoron — but according to Mother Nature, it’s not

Constructing sand barriers comprising coarse sand — not fine sand which termites can tunnel through — around your garden will help to prevent additional termites from entering. These barriers should be 18-24 inches deep and 24-30 inches wide, be piled up to six to 12 inches above the ground and kept in perfect condition. Avoid the use of wooden materials and do not add any wood, even fallen twigs, to your compost / mulching material. Maintain good soil health by using organic compost / well-rotted, organic manures on a regular basis: this encourages strong, healthy, plant growth and healthy plants are far more resistant to termites than weak ones. The subject is complex. I will write about it, in full, in a future column. Meanwhile, make a start on the above and do not despair. The problem can be solved.

The same goes for mealy bugs which can be suffocated by spraying them with a high grade cooking oil or killed by spraying with a strong brew of ground, not instant, coffee.

Q. Whenever I try to grow Money plants in water the leaves turn yellowish green after only a few days and the plants look sick. I always keep the jar near the window and have even tried mineral water. I have also added a few pinches of manure and powdered eggshell but nothing has helped.

A. New cuttings, of any plants, often shed existing leaves before growing healthy new ones. Be patient please. Avoid using mineral water on plants as they do not like it: use tap water instead.

Ripening dates

Q. What are the essential requirements and conditions for growing dates from seed? Can Ajwah and Mabroom be grown from seed at home?

A. Soak the seeds in cold water, changing it each day to prevent fungal growth, for 10 days. Next, wash the seeds, wrap them in damp kitchen paper / tissue, seal inside a plastic bag / container, keep in a warm place, check occasionally and change the paper if mould forms. Germination can take a few weeks so be patient. Once they germinate, carefully plant in good compost, sealing each pot inside clear plastic to retain warmth and humidity. Remove the plastic once leaves appear. This applies to all date species.

Q. I have a few pineapple plants which produce fruit on and off. One of the plants, one that has very sweet fruit, has developed funny off-shoots at the base of the fruit. It seems to have nine baby plants growing there. Is this a regular feature of pineapple plants?

A. Yes. This often happens. Carefully cut out the baby plants once they are large enough to handle. Retain as much root as possible on each one. Transplant out as usual.

Q. I want to know how to cultivate crops in very sandy soil in the UAE as I would like to establish a kitchen garden. How should the land be prepared? When should I water? How to deal with hot weather and bright sun? What can I sow now? I want both vegetables and flowers.

A. It is essential to add organic material such as well rotted manure / compost, in large quantities to the sandy soil to improve water retention and provide plant food. Providing shade for emerging seedlings, in the form of green netting stretched over frames, is important too. Watering should be done towards sunset so that plants have all night to drink their fill before daytime heat evaporates the ground water. Criss-crossing the garden area with irrigation channels and watering directly into these, ensures that water goes directly to plant roots thus reducing evaporation from the soil surface. If these things are done, you can sow seeds including the following, this month: tomatoes, radish, spinach, Swiss chard / leaf beet, cabbage, lettuce, zinnia, carnations, petunia, gerbera and geranium.

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer will not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine July 12th, 2015

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