Q. I reside in Defence Phase 5, Karachi. My one-and-half-year-old papaya plant in the backyard gets about three hours of sunlight. It used to be healthy but, since the last 2 months, its leaves curl up and appear sick. I have sprayed neem oil on the leaves but there has been no improvement. Please advise.

A. Your tree is probably suffering from papaya leaf virus, for which there is no actual cure, chemical or otherwise. This virus is usually transmitted/carried by white fly, therefore controlling any white fly on the tree may help. It is easy to eradicate by spraying with warm, soapy water. Add one dessertspoon liquid soap/dish-washing liquid to one litre warm water, mix well and spray each evening for three days, and then every other evening for the following two weeks. Spray underneath as well as on top of each leaf. An additional problem is that the tree is highly unlikely to thrive on just three hours of direct sunlight each day, as papayas require a position in full sun, all day long, to be at their healthiest, and to produce sweet fruit in abundance. If your tree manages to survive the leaf curl attack and bears fruit, it will be poor quality with very little taste, if any. Move it into a sunnier location if you possibly can.

Q. My roses in Defence, Karachi, don’t look healthy. Some leaves are turning yellow and new leaves are small. The dried out rose petals do not fall off. I tried spraying with warm water, washing-up liquid and oil but it didn’t make any difference. I water them daily, just a light shower, and they receive 6-7 hours of sunlight each day. How can I improve them?

A. It sounds like your poor roses are literally starving to death. They desperately need feeding. Mulch around them — the mulch must not touch the base of the plant but be kept about four inches away from it — with a three-inch thick layer of old, well-rotted, organic animal manure (not poultry manure) or with top quality organic compost. Top up the mulch/compost each month as it will slowly be pulled down into the soil by industrious beneficial insects such as earthworms. This mulch will ensure that the roses always have the nourishment they need. When watering, do not shower the plant itself. Only water the ground and mulch around the plant, without getting the plant leaves wet. The kind of spray you used is for insect control so it is of no benefit if insects are not a problem. Dry rose petals do not always fall off of their own accord. When a rose flower has finished blooming it is usual practice to snip off the finished flower head with a sharp pair of secateurs. This is known as dead-heading and doing this regularly encourages the plant to produce more blooms. Do not drop the dead-heads on the ground, either add them to your compost heap or put them in the bin.

All your gardening queries answered here

Q. Where can I get persimmon plants from?

A. Young persimmon trees are usually available in nurseries during the late winter months.

Q. Can liquid seaweed fertiliser be given to fruit trees such as plum, apple, citrus fruit and persimmon when they are fruiting? Also, can liquid fertiliser be used as a foliar feed?

A. Yes is the answer to both of your questions. If you apply a foliar feed when a tree is fruiting, wash the fruit well before you eat it.

Q. Can I grow raspberries in Daharki, district Ghotki in upper Sindh?

A. Sorry, the climate in your locality is not suitable for raspberry cultivation.

Q. Please provide information about growing grapevines at home.

A. I have written about this subject in the past and will give an update in a few weeks’ time, so please continue reading this column.

Q. The bark of my four-year-old mango tree has been eaten by a goat to a height of about four feet on all sides. What is the remedy and will the tree survive? I reside in Lahore.

A. Your tree, unfortunately, is unlikely to survive, as its tender, inner bark is now fully exposed to the blistering summer sun. You can, though, try covering the exposed trunk with a thick layer of mud, made into a paste with the addition of a little water, to protect it from sunburn, and hope for the best. Its chance of survival will still be small, but it is worth trying. Having kept goats in the past, I do understand how difficult it can be to keep them away from your precious trees and garden plants, but you really must try. Goats are responsible for the death of millions of trees in the country each year and, wonderful animals as they are, they are also a major menace.

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, June 12th, 2022