Q. I am 13 years old and have come to know the importance of growing fresh food using organic methods and am now trying to convince my grandparents not to use any chemicals on their farm in Sindh. To be successful in this I need to know the exact procedure for making the chilli and garlic pest sprays that you sometimes mention. Can you please guide me?
A. Wonderful to hear this and I wish you all the very best in your laudable endeavour. Here are the recipes.
Hell-fire spray: Use a quarter kilo of the hottest green chillies you can find. Wear gloves, cover your nose and mouth with a mask or damp scarf and put on glasses/sun glasses, too, for complete protection from the very strong fumes. Either chop up the chillies as small as possible or grind them to a rough paste. Put the chopped/ground chillies in a clear plastic container — a large empty water bottle with a wide mouth is excellent — add one litre of water and let it stand in the sun for 24-48 hours. Strain the mixture through fine muslin cloth and spray (wearing gloves/mask/glasses) on infected plants around sunset. Avoid spraying on windy days.
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The residue from the first mix can be reused two or three times before it loses its strength. If the plants have been heavily infected by insects, spray each evening for three or four days, take a break of three to four days and then repeat the process. The solution washes off in the rain so it is best to use it only during dry weather.
Garlic spray: Use a quarter kilo of whole garlic cloves — no need to peel them — and put them in a pan with one litre of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for approximately 15-20 minutes. Pour into a bucket or some other container, adding more water to ensure that there is still one litre there and then leave to stand overnight. Strain and use exactly as the instructions for hell-fire spray.
These two sprays are excellent for use against all insect infestations except scale insects. The hell-fire spray tends to be stronger than garlic spray. Neither spray is harmful to plants providing that instructions are adhered to in full.
Q. I live in Defence, Karachi, and previously relied on chemical fertilisers and pesticides for my plants. I now want to switch over to organic methods starting with a cure for the white fungus stuff growing underneath some of my plants’ leaves. What shall I spray on it?
A. The ‘white fungus stuff’ may or may not be related to an insect infestation. If insect pests are present, first try garlic spray and if this doesn’t work, then switch to hell-fire spray. If no insect pests have been seen, simply wash off the ‘white fungus stuff’ using a soft sponge dipped in slightly warm, soapy water. If, however, the problem is mildew, cut off heavily infected leaves and dispose of them sensibly (not in the compost) and wash down the less-infected leaves with half litre of warm water in which one teaspoon bicarbonate of soda has been dissolved.
Q. I am an agricultural sciences student from Gilgit-Baltistan where we are experiencing bad crop losses of grapes and pomegranates due to insect infestations. Can you guide us on some kind of biological pest control as we no longer feel happy using chemical interventions?
A. Much depends on the kind of insects you are having problems with. If they are common insect pests then please see above answers for information. If they are less common then please send full details for a more relevant reply.
Q. Is there some kind of fruiting tree that can be grown on saline land in the coastal region?
The hell-fire spray and garlic spray are excellent for use against all insect infestations except scale insects.
A. Date palms and coconuts are both suitable.
Q. Is it possible to grow water lilies in large pots in Lahore’s climate and, if so, where can I find the plants and how should they be started off?
A. Yes. Young plants can be found in some Lahore and Patoki nurseries which you can grow in small pots of soil. These pots are submerged in shallow water with the plant leaves floating on the water surface. Once fully established and visibly growing well, the pots can be moved into deeper water and weighted down with stones to keep them in place while they settle in.
Q. In these hot days of summer should I keep the upper surface of pot plants damp?
A. It depends on the species of plants you are cultivating as some plants would benefit from this but others may then develop mildew/fungal diseases and die.
Q. I am from Rawalakot, Poonch, AJK, and want to cultivate grapes in my village. I have tried many times but failed due to harsh winter weather with snowfall from October to March. Spring begins at the end of March or even in April sometimes. For some reason the grapevines do not survive the winter yet I know that other people in AJK grow them without problem. I need advice please.
A. I suggest that you contact the Arid Agriculture University, Murree Road, Rawalpindi for detailed advice and, in season, to purchase suitable vines.
Q. I am growing grapes in Rawalpindi but they have lots of seeds. Where can I get plants for seedless ones?
A. Please see reply to the previous question.
Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. It is important to include your location. The writer does not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened. Commercial queries will not be answered.
Published in Dawn, EOS, August 20th, 2017
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