Lantana | Photos by the writer
Lantana | Photos by the writer

Q. I read your article about compost tea, where you mentioned that compost tea should be given to plants during their growing season. When is a plant’s growing season? Is it when it is growing from seed and producing more and more leaves or when it starts to form flowers or to set a crop of fruit? Also, how often and how much compost tea and compost should I give to ensure that my plants produce many flowers and good crops?

A. A plant’s growing season continues right from the germination of seed through to harvesting the crop or when flowering finishes. Purely seasonal/annual plants die after flowering/cropping. Permanent/perennial plants, often take a break from growing during winter months and during this rest period there is no need to feed them with compost tea.

The amount of compost tea given varies from one species to another, while the quantity depends on the strength of the tea even though it is usual to dilute it with water at a rate of one part tea to nine parts water. A rough guide is to apply compost tea once every seven to 10 days to boost and maintain healthy plant growth and flower/crop production. The application of compost also varies depending on its type and what is being grown. To be on the safe side, either mix compost into the soil at an approximate rate of one part compost to five parts soil or use compost as a mulch, laying it on the soil surface one to three inches deep — it must not come into direct contact with plant stems though. It will slowly rot down, assisted by beneficial insects and irrigation, into the soil to feed your plants over an extended period of time. Mulching helps retention of soil moisture thus reducing the need for water.

All your gardening queries answered here

Q. I am creating a garden in DHA Phase 8, Karachi, where the existing soil is 100 percent beach sand. I intend to have one foot of good soil spread on top of this. I need to know what sort of greenery will grow in these conditions. I have been told that I should plant a lawn as deep-rooted plants will not survive but I am not keen on having a lawn. I am a complete novice when it comes to gardening so would appreciate any advice.

A. Presuming that the garden area is walled — this will provide some protection from direct sea breeze — there are a number of trees and climbers that should be okay. These include bougainvillea and climbing jasmine to train over the walls or other support frameworks. Suitable trees include: coconut palms, Terminalia catappa (badam), neem, curry patta, rubber plants/trees, chikoo, sharifa, thespesia populnea (tulip tree) and various other members of both the ficus and acacia families of trees. But don’t plant them right against the boundary or house walls as they could damage the foundations. Since tree roots may also interfere with underground pipes/cables so plant them well away from these. Shrubs such as oleander — a beautiful but poisonous plant so it should not be grown if there are children around — champa and lantana should perform well too. As long as they have shelter from direct sea breeze, seasonal flowers — these can be grown from seed or purchased as seedlings from local nurseries — will be fine if grown in the soil you plan to spread or planted in large pots/containers. Instead of maintaining a lawn, which can be difficult and expensive, you might like to consider creating a paved area for outdoor seating. It would be easy to keep clean and with artistic forethought could be very attractive indeed.

Well-fed plants reward with good crop
Well-fed plants reward with good crop

Q. I give my coconut palm 90 litres of water every other day. Is this too much? If so, how much should be given and how often? The tree is 30 years old and in Karachi.

A. An adult coconut palm requires approximately 50 litres of water, preferably on a daily basis.

Q. I need guidance in growing tomatoes.

A. Please refer to the column dated September 16, 2018, which dealt with growing tomatoes in detail. It can easily be found in back issues of the magazine on the internet. If, after reading it, you still have questions, please ask again.

Q. Please suggest some easy to care for indoor plants and also some outdoor plants that need little water and will be good for growing in the street outside my home.

A. Providing that there is a decent amount of natural light in the rooms where you wish to have plants, the following need little upkeep: chlorophytum (spider plant), sanseveria (mother-in-law’s tongue/snake plant), tradescantia (wandering Jew) and a wide range of cacti and succulents. For outdoors — although recommendations are hampered as you failed to mention a location — there are many hardy cacti and succulents that meet your requirements as do the following shrubs: lantana, jasmine, motia, kamni, henna, plumbago, russelia, justica and hibiscus.

Q. Can ice apple, munjal or tadgola be grown in Karachi? What growing conditions do they need and are they grown elsewhere in Pakistan?

A. Borassus flabellifer (ice apple, toddy palm, munjal, Asian palmyra palm, etc), is a very tall growing palm — up to 90 feet to 100 feet — indigenous to Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and coastal areas of Pakistan too, although, to be honest, I am not familiar with it. Grown for its fruit, sap and useful fronds, this palm requires high humidity, hot and wet summers, and relatively warm winters to thrive. There is no reason why it cannot be grown in Karachi and judging from information obtained, it may well be growing there already.

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.

Published in Dawn, EOS, September 22nd, 2019

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