|
|
|
December 1, 2005
Aromatic vanilla
‘Vanilla planifolia' , a climbing member of the orchid family, is grown commercially for its aromatic flavouring contained in the pods, writes Zahrah Nasir
Q: Somebody gave my husband vanilla pods which are black in colour and stick-like in shape. What are they meant for and how are they used? We reside in Karachi.
A: Wow! Aren't you the lucky one although your degree of luck depends on if the pods have been processed or not. 'Vanilla planifolia' is a climbing member of the orchid family of plants and is grown commercially, though increasingly rare, for the wonderful aromatic flavouring contained in the pods. It is indigenous to South America, Florida and the West Indies and is now cultivated in Madagascar, the Seychelles and Java. Most vanilla products found in the market or in items such as ice cream are now synthetically manufactured as it takes six months, sometimes longer, to process the natural pods.
I presume, hopefully, that your pods have not been processed in which case there are two things you can do with them. You can simply place the pods, covered in sugar, in an airtight container. Leave this in a dark place until the sugar takes on a vanilla flavour then use the sugar as you like. This is probably what I would do, carefully open the pods, remove the tiny seeds and plant them in warm, moist conditions and see if they will grow into a luxurious climber for you. If you do this, then you can still put what is left of the pods into sugar. You can have it both ways!
Q: A few years back I planted a few mango trees. One survived which bore a few mangoes in its third year and 15 - 20 mangoes the next. Older leaves turned black on the tips and edges. Thereafter, it stopped flowering and now grows very few leaves which are shrivelled at the edges. What is the problem and what is the remedy? I live in Lahore. No chemical manure or pesticide has been used.
A: It sounds ominously like your mango tree has developed the same disease that has wiped out a large number of commercial mango orchards in the Punjab. This disease is caused by over-watering or waterlogged conditions around the tree roots. It would be best if you remove it completely and, either start all over again, making sure that proper drainage is provided or re-plant with something such as chicos which are more tolerant of difficult conditions. Sorry about this!
Q: I live in Baku-Azerbaijan where the weather is hot from June to September and the mercury goes down to zero in December and January. I would like to ask if it is possible to grow ginger in a pot? I am specifically asking this as ginger is not available here. If the answer is yes, then where can I buy good ginger seeds in Pakistan and how should they be planted?
A: Ginger needs a long, hot growing period to be successful and the length of the hot weather in Baku-Azerbaijan is very short. However, if you have a very sunny indoor windowsill and presuming that the room is heated, you could have a go at growing ginger in a pot on an experimental basis. Ginger is not grown from seed but from pieces of actual ginger root. Plant a plump piece of root, one with bumps on it, at a depth of about two inches in good quality compost. I would suggest doing this at the beginning of April or so, depending on the start of spring there. Keep the soil moist but not wet, keep the pot in warmth and sun and, finally, keep your fingers crossed! I would be most interested in hearing how you get on.
Q: My query is about the problem of white bugs in Karachi University. All the plants in the university are infested with these bugs despite spraying them with chemicals. How to get rid of them and are there any plants which would not become infested by these as I am concerned that the university will become barren soon?
A: Your description of 'white bugs' can relate to white fly, which float around and generally hide underneath the leaves, or to aphids, which congregate on the stems and growing tips of plants. But, either way, the solution is the same. Make up an organic spray out of a quarter kilo of fresh garlic boiled in one litre of water, leave to stand for 12 hours, strain through fine cloth and then spray this all over the plants at weekly intervals until the bugs have disappeared. I suspect that the closed, humid atmosphere inside the university building has provided these pests with the perfect environment in which to live and multiply. You could try replacing what are tender, leafy plants with those that have leathery leaves, such as rubber plants and sansiveria as these are highly unlikely to be affected by either pest.
Q: What is the Urdu name for rosemary please? Will it grow in Islamabad? Can you please inform me of the Urdu names for other herbs which can be used in the kitchen and where can I obtain seeds for lavender?
A: There is no Urdu name for rosemary as it is an introduced, and non-indigenous plant. It grows extremely well in Islamabad and the surrounding areas. Simply ask for rosemary or 'Rosmarinus' at your favourite nursery and if they can't help you then a different nursery will. Other culinary herbs I will write about separately, and will include an Urdu name where there is one.
You may possibly find lavender seeds in a seed store, otherwise you will need to import them personally from a reputable international seed supplier but please remember, lavender, though it germinates well in Islamabad, requires plenty of shade to survive the intensely hot summer months in that area.
Send your gardening questions at zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Answers will appear in a future issue of 'The Review'.
|
|
|
|
