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April 13, 2006
Seed sowing times
Zahrah Nasir answers queries regarding temperature problems gardeners face when sowing imported seeds
Q The problem with getting seeds from abroad is that the temperatures mentioned for germination are based on the foreign countries’ local estimates. Generally I know which seeds to plant and when, for e.g. petunias, pansies, violas are planted in winter in Karachi, sown around the mid of October. Zinnias can pretty much survive the summer and I have grown them in 50°c in Peshawar. It is the varieties which are not normally grown here that are a problem.
I have seeds for a variety of begonia. The catalogue says to plant them at 70–85°f but I am not sure if I should plant them in the Karachi summer with high humidity. What do you advise? I was also told that you can’t grow sweet peas in Karachi and threw away two kilograms of seed, which I had brought from Peshawar, without even trying to plant them. I would really appreciate if you can help me with these difficulties.
A You threw away two kilograms of sweet pea seed without even trying to grow them! Shame on you. Why on earth didn’t you try it? I have personally grown sweet peas in Karachi a number of years ago. True, they did not flower as well as those grown under cooler conditions but they did flower. When it comes to growing things, particularly from seed, never listen to ‘hearsay’. Unless you know perfectly well that a species will not take the climate then anything is worth a try during the appropriate season.
When planting imported seeds the temperatures specified for germination will be approximately the same. The problem lies not with this but with the temperatures to be expected throughout the following growing period. For example, both autumn and spring temperatures in Karachi have a period when they are about equal but, the difference lies in that autumn sown seeds have the cooler winter months in which to thrive.
The same seeds sown in spring face a long hot summer which they may not like. When selecting imported seeds it is extremely important to consider the temperatures expected throughout the growing season and not just for germination. Even then, some plants may decide to surprise you.
Unfortunately, you did not specify if your begonia seeds are for fibrous rooted begonias or tuberous ones so all I can suggest to you is that tuberous ones should be sown in September and may flower the following year if great care is taken and that fibrous rooted ones should also be sown at the same time for flowering during early spring. Begonias can be quite tricky from seed and, if correct care is not taken, will rot under humid conditions. Never sow them in a Karachi spring.
QCan you tell me if imported seeds for kiwi fruit will grow in Pakistan?
A This depends on your home locality. The seeds will germinate in Karachi for example but will probably not thrive as the plants prefer to have a decent rest during the winter months. I believe that they are grown in some fertile areas of NWFP, where winter temperatures are quite low but have not personally seen them there. I have grown them in Bhurban and had very good germination but, sadly, the hungry snails ate the lot during the summer monsoons. Another packet of seed awaits sowing as I write and this time I hope to keep the snails at bay.
Q I understand that lychees are grown in Islamabad and that they are much bigger and sweeter than those grown in Bangladesh. I want to obtain saplings to grow in Karachi. Please tell me about this and the correct month for planting.
A The lychees grown in Islamabad and Rawalpindi areas were originally imported from China many years ago. The fruit, usually brownish in colour, is larger and sweeter than the lychees from Bangladesh which tend to have an attractive reddish skin. Many people opt for the colour of the Bangladesh lychees rather than the flavour of their Chinese counterparts.
I have my doubts as to whether or not they would thrive in Karachi but, if you decide to give them a try, then saplings are usually to be found in Haripur during January, February and early March.
Q I believe that Islamabad is full of good flowering trees suitable for roadside plantation. Reportedly the flowers are very colourful and the trees do not need much care or watering. They are grown from seeds. What is the name of these trees and where can I obtain seeds to grow in Karachi.
A You need to tell me the names of these trees or, at the very least, the colour of the flowers. At a guess, you may be referring to jacaranda, ‘amaltas’ or legistomia and of these three species only the ‘amaltas’, sometimes known as ‘Indian laburnum’ will be happy in the maritime climate of Karachi, though I have seen some rather straggly jacaranda trees in flower there. There is no need to grow amaltas from seed as saplings can be found in nurseries.
Q I live in a village of Rawalpindi. Can we grow ginger in normal soil or should we add something and how often should we water it?
A The soil in the Rawalpindi area tends to be heavy clay and this requires the addition of river sand and well-rotted organic manure if you want a heavy crop of ginger. During the growing season, beginning of March through to the end of December, your ginger should be watered, quite heavily, at least twice a week from March to the beginning of May and from the end of October onwards. From the beginning of May to the end of October, water three times a week unless it rains.
Q I have an indoor plant called ‘money plant’ but it is not growing at all. I have planted it in a vessel containing only water and keep it in the veranda. What is the problem with it?
A I do not see any problem with the growing conditions you have provided for your plant. You sent me this question when the temperatures in the Rawalpindi area were quite low and it is more than likely that your plant will pick up once temperatures increase. Money plants do not enjoy cold weather at all. Alternatively, these plants sometimes, not always, prefer to grow in a transparent glass container rather than a solid vessel. If it does not pick up when temperatures rise then perhaps you could transfer it to a glass container. n
Send your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Answers will appear in a future issue of ‘The Review’.
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