Q. I live in Karachi and have an eggplant growing in a 20-inch pot, which is flowering massively. Please suggest what should be done to ensure that the majority blooms into good, big size eggplants? I am growing it for the first time and have no prior experience of it.
A. Based on the photograph you shared, it appears that your plant is getting proper sunlight exposure, optimum watering and a generous supply of nutrients. When it comes to pollination of flowers and conversion of flowers into fruit, the presence of pollinators is extremely important. Bees, butterflies, small birds and other insects may help your plant in transmission of the pollen from the stamens, the male parts of the flower, to the pistil, female part of the flowers. In the absence of pollinators, wind may aid in dislodging pollen from the anthers.
In the absence of the above pollinators, you can opt for hand pollination. It is one of the most convenient methods of pollination, especially for those living in a metropolis. Gently tap at the base of the flower, which would dislodge the pollen for it to fall on to the female part of the flower and ensure a successful pollination. I hope you end up with a bumper eggplant crop from your plant this season. All the best!
Q. One of my friends in Faisalabad wants to send a few cuttings of an ornamental plant called Swiss cheese plant. I want to know that if I get it, what would be a good time to grow these cuttings in Karachi?
A. The ideal time for the propagation of Swiss cheese plant cuttings is during the spring season. This will correspond to the months of February and March in Karachi. You can place the cuttings in a water-filled vase till the arrival of spring season.
All your gardening queries answered here…
Q. You might find my question amusing. For the last couple of weeks, my neighbours have been constructing a guard room. Yesterday, they insisted that I take their leftover construction materiel — specifically the filtered bajri — and mix it with my gardening soil for my potted plants and flower beds. I was taken aback, but they were adamant that it is standard practice to use construction sand with nursery soil for planting. While I do not agree with them, their conviction has left me doubting myself enough to send this query. Can I actually use this bajri?
A. No question is amusing; every query broadens my horizon as well. Such interesting questions help me to realise how many of us can look into gardening aspects from so many different angles. As far as your query is concerned, you will be surprised to know that one part of this gravel or bajri can be mixed with four parts of regular nursery soil and used for normal gardening. So, your neighbour might be correct in this case.
Q. I read in these columns a few months ago that wood ash is good for plants and can be used as fertiliser. We had a barbecue two days back. Now, two sacks of ash remain from the wood that was used to prepare the food. Can I sprinkle it over my plants? I am attaching the photographs of the ash collected. It’s just like the ash that you may find outside any roadside tea stalls. Please advise.
A. Yes, you definitely can, as wood ash is extremely beneficial for plants. It contains potassium and phosphorus, two of the vital nutrients required for plant growth. It also contains calcium, magnesium and other essential nutrients for plant growth.
Just make sure that the ash is devoid of any barbecue-related gravy or meat particles. Similarly, it is extremely important to segregate and remove big coal pieces, if any, from the ash. Once you are left with fine ash, take one part of this wood ash and mix it with eight parts compost. Wood ash is always used in limited quantity, as it increases soil pH and acidity levels. A handful of this mixture can be sprinkled over the soil surface of plants that are being grown in 12-inch pots.g
Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening
Published in Dawn, EOS, January 25th, 2026
