Q. We have a 15-year-old desi mango tree in our Karachi garden. It produces fruit each season but we have to pick it before it is ripe, otherwise the fruit rots inside. The tree leaves start drying out and falling off at the end of May or early June and new leaves immediately start appearing.

This year we had an additional problem: the tree is exuding a thick, sticky liquid substance. We are considering cutting the tree down but do prefer to save it if you can suggest a remedy.

A. There may well be two distinct problems here. The tree was initially infected with anthracnose blight which is responsible for the fruit rot and leaf fall and this blight has, over time, weakened the tree, making it susceptible to a disease called gummosis, which is responsible for the oozing, dripping substance.

Hard-prune the tree, taking care that all branches with cracked or discoloured bark are removed. Clean up all fallen twigs, leaves and other debris from around its base and dispose of them well away from your garden. Where thick branches have been removed, paint the cuts with a mixture of turmeric and heeng (asafoetida) powder, mixed to a paste with neem oil. Then mulch around with a four- to six-inch layer of top quality organic compost or well-rotted manure. This should not be in direct contact with the base of the tree and it will help the tree regain its strength.

New growth should appear fairly quickly. Give the tree at least six months to begin recovering, keeping it well-fed and watered throughout. If, however, the tree does not respond to treatment then, sadly, it was already too far gone to save. If it has to be removed do not replace it with another fruit tree, as pathogens may remain in the soil and infect that one as well.

All your gardening queries answered here

Q. What are the basics of vegetable gardening for beginners?

A. Dedication to the task in hand, patience whilst crops grow, a mind that is open to learning and a body prepared for physical hard work all year round. Take small steps, starting out with easy to cultivate crops such as courgettes, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach, and keep your eyes on this column.

Q. Is vertical gardening an easy growing option for beginners to grow vegetables?

A. Absolutely not. Successful vertical gardening requires in-depth knowledge of individual plant species’ requirements, careful monitoring and financial investment. It is much simpler for beginners to start off by growing vegetables in pots/containers or directly in prepared garden ground.

Q. Is Pistacia intergerrima available in the Rawalpindi/Islamabad area? I think the local name is kangar.

A. Even though this is an indigenous tree variety, it is surprisingly hard to find these days. Its rootstock is used for grafting on to the well-known pistachio nut trees, so it is possible that it may be found in nurseries supplying these nut trees to the market during the winter months. Pistachio saplings are more likely to be found in the Peshawar/Mardan area than in Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Local names for Pistacia intergerrima also include kakra and kakra singhi, plus zebra wood in English.

Q. I have a 30-year-old coconut tree in my Karachi garden and want to know how to take good care of it. Can you please tell which fertiliser I should use, in what quantity and when? When and how to use compost? How much sea salt to apply and when? Lastly, how much fish meal to give and when, and is anything else applicable?

A. Unless planted in very saline soil, coconut trees should be given 250 gm of sea salt every six months and, once a year, a top dressing of fish meal should be spread on the soil surface around the base of the tree. In addition, there is nothing a coconut tree likes better than to be top-dressed with pure ash, made by burning its own fallen, dried-out fronds, once a year. Top dressing of any kind is taken down to the tree roots via regular watering and the combined action of beneficial insects and soil microbes.

Q. Can Paulownia tomentosa be grown in Pakistan and what kind of environment does it need? If it can be grown, I would also like to know where saplings of this tree can be found in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where I live?

A. Also known as foxglove tree or princess/empress trees, Paulownia tomentosa is designated as a potentially harmful invasive species and is not recommended for cultivation in Pakistan where unfortunately it has already caused damage to localised eco-systems in both central and northern Punjab.

Please note: It is against this paper’s policy to name specific nurseries and gardening supply stores in this column. Please look in the advertising section for these.

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

Published in Dawn, EOS, August 25th, 2019