Q: I am getting very annoyed trying to grow capsicum peppers. They never ripen into the shades of orange, red and yellow as shown on the packet; instead I get the same old green every time. The same is the case with those beautifully coloured hot peppers except for purple ones. This year I tried sowing seeds from coloured capsicums I bought from a superstore but the result is the same green capsicums. Someone told me that these coloured varieties need to be grown in a greenhouse. Is this correct, as I do have a greenhouse on the roof of my home in Quetta.

A: As long as the temperature is high enough and they receive plenty of sunshine, capsicums, of all kinds, (provided that soil conditions are correct, of course) are perfectly happy to be grown outside. There is no need to resort to greenhouse cultivation of capsicums over the summer months in Quetta. Green capsicums are simply unripe capsicums — whether these are sweet or hot varieties. The problem is simply one of patience. It can take quite some time until unripe green capsicums ripen to the colour as portrayed on the seed packets you mention. Capsicums start out green and, slowly, change colour as they ripen. All you need to do, as long as the soil/compost is good, is to give them plenty of time to do this. Taking seeds out of store bought, coloured capsicums is not a good idea as these are likely to be hybrid varieties from which, if seeds germinate successfully, the results are often very poor.

Q: I would like to grow avocado trees in Sialkot. Is this possible and, if so, where can I get plants? We have much the same weather as Lahore.

A: Avocado trees may do quite well in Sialkot as long as irrigation is adequate and correct soil conditions are maintained. Saplings may be available in nurseries around Lahore over the winter to early spring. Otherwise, purchase fresh avocadoes when you can and grow your own from the huge seed inside. This seed is best started off balanced over a jar of water, with just the very base of the stone coming into direct contact with the water and no more. This system is often used for growing hyacinth bulbs as indoor flowers and some gardening shops have special hyacinth bulb jars; these can be used for growing avocadoes too. Once the seedling is well established it can be transferred to a pot of soil/compost and grown on until large enough to plant out in the ground. Avocadoes take some years to reach fruiting size so patience is required, plus, it is important to have at least three trees for purposes of cross pollination unless, that is, you can locate bisexual varieties.

Q: Kindly guide me how to grow parsley in Multan as it is not available here. Also, what is the correct growing season?

A: Parsley seed should be autumn sown, in prepared beds which are rich in organic matter, in your location. Germination can be slow and tends to be sporadic. Parsley enjoys light shade and requires lots of irrigation on a regular basis. It can also be cultivated in clay pots and other containers such as the wooden fruit/vegetable crates found in the bazaar and which, lined with a few sheets of newspaper, are ideal for growing many varieties of vegetables and herbs. Pots/containers for parsley should preferably be approximately six inches deep as parsley has reasonably long roots.

Q: I would like to know of any technique that can be adopted to prevent dates from falling off the trees in their early stages of growth. Every year I lose a large amount of dates due to this problem.

A: Increased irrigation during the flowering and fruit setting/development stage should help resolve the issue.

Q: I live in Malir and want to replace a honeysuckle vine with some other climber at the entrance porch of my home. Is ‘haar singhar’ suitable if I provide a pillar and fasten it with wire? Where can I buy this plant and what care does it need?

A: Haar singhar, botanically called ‘Nyctanthes arbortrists’ is a small tree not a climber and, whilst the flowers are both beautiful and fragrant, it is unlikely to take kindly to any attempt at trying to force it to be a climber! I suggest that you opt for a very fragrant, climbing jasmine if it is perfume that you desire.

Q: Please suggest a climber with fragrant flowers which is suitable for growing over the pergola in my garden in Karachi. I reside in PECHS.

A: There is nothing to match climbing jasmine for this purpose.

Please send your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer will not respond directly by e-mail. E-mails with attachments will not be opened.