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March 2, 2006
All in a name
This week Zahrah Nasir gives tips on growing ginger and garlic in clay pots
Q What is the plant that is known to our local gardeners as thkh-malanga in Urdu? I remember that back in Pakistan we used to have sherbet with it along with faluda. If thkh-malanga is the rosemary you wrote about then we can plant it here in California and enjoy our sherbets again.
A Thkh-malanga, also known as naz boo in Urdu is no other than that highly aromatic and extremely useful herb sweet basil. Botanically known as ocimum basilicum, it is a member of a huge family of herbs which includes lemon basil, purple basil even a liquorice basil.
The plant has so many uses, culinary and medicinal, that I cannot list them all here so promise to write on the subject in the not too distant future. Suffice to say that the thkh-malanga of your sherbet and faluda memories is the seed of sweet basil and this herb grows extremely well in California.
Q I would like to know the local name of what, we, in the West know as flax seed.
A Alsi, as it is known in Urdu, has regained its popularity in recent years although its tonic and medicinal uses have been known to mankind for thousands of years. Flax seed is a recognised source of essential Omega oils 3, 6 and 9, and it also contains important fatty acids, fibers, lignans and protein. It is used to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, to control weight and cholesterol, is claimed to enhance the immune system and is also said to have cancer fighting properties.
Q Can we do the hing therapy, that you advised for guavas, for other fruit trees such as peaches and apricots?
A Yes. You most certainly can. This treatment can be used for all types of trees, fruiting and non-fruiting but must be done when the trees are just thinking of waking up after their winter rest.
Q Please tell me where to obtain bulbils of the batatas you wrote about recently. How will they grow in the sandy soil of Karachi?
A Batatas should grow very well in Karachi provided the vine is grown in a location which is protected from any strong, possibly salty breeze. In fact, they should do better here than up in Bhurban.
As to where you can get hold of the bulbils, I suggest that you search for a supplier on the Internet as you will need to import them yourself. They are not, to the best of my knowledge, available in Pakistan at the moment.
Q I have two coconut trees in my garden. One produces fruit and one does not. We do give them the correct amount of water. Our location is in Orangi Township, Karachi.
A You have not mentioned the age of your coconut palms. They can take quite a number of years before they begin fruiting. Perhaps one of your palms is older than the other. All I am able to suggest is that you remain patient and hope that the second tree does begin fruiting before too long.
Q Is there an outlet in Karachi for people interested in buying bonsai plants and what is the price range for such items?
A It may be possible to purchase bonsai trees in Karachi but I am not personally aware of a nursery dealing in such trees. I would, therefore, suggest that you get in touch with your local horticultural society and see if they are able to offer any assistance in this matter.
Q I want to create a garden full of interesting and beautiful flowers and am trying hard to do this but my day lilies are not flowering and neither is my kniphofia plant. Also, my roses do not look healthy and the flowers are small.
A From what you tell me, both your day lilies and kniphofia are suffering from over-watering. Ask your gardener to water them every third day and no more, even less during the Karachi winter. Have your roses been correctly pruned? If so then perhaps the soil needs attention. Roses require plenty of feeding and care in order to produce large blooms.
Q Can you tell me how to grow mushrooms in gardens/houses but not on a commercial basis. Where can I get mushroom seeds from?
A Providing that a warm temperature, high humidity, dark conditions and a place in which no draught is able to penetrate, then growing mushrooms at home is not a difficult proposition. Compost must be very rich and high in well rotted organic matter.
Growing them in a dark coloured, light excluding plastic bin with an airtight lid and keeping this in a dark, warm closet or in the back of a garage is quite suitable as long as the aforementioned conditions are complied with. The only problem is in obtaining the spawn. If you can track down a reliable source then please do let me know!
Q I live in Karachi and have a small query relating to growing ginger and garlic in a clay pot. What is the correct technique to do this and get good results.
A I suggest that you grow your ginger in a ten-inch clay pot full of sandy soil enriched with organic compost. Buy some nice fresh ginger from the bazaar, not the dried up stuff, break it in chunks, each chunk having a couple of nodules on it as the leaves will grow from here. Plant these at a depth of approximately four inches, keep the pot in a sunny location and keep the soil damp but not wet and then sit back and wait. Ginger can take up to ten months to be ready for harvesting so it is best to plant it during March so that it has lots of hot weather to help it along.
Garlic will do fine in a large, shallow round planter, they cost about Rs60 – Rs80 and this should be filled with very rich compost as garlic requires lots of nourishment if it is going to produce nice fat bulbs. Purchase fresh garlic, separate the cloves and push these into the compost until they are just submerged and no more.
Plant them about three to four inches apart. Grow in a sunny location and water as for ginger. Garlic can be ready for harvesting in four to six months depending on climatic conditions. By the way, pots should have pieces of stone or other handy material in the base below the soil in order to alleviate drainage.
Send your queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Answers will appear in a future issue of ‘The Review’.
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