Potted ‘Bougainvillea
Q. Would you please provide a list of fast growing shrubs, climbers and creepers, that can be grown in summers and in the winter in containers or pots?
A. There are so many that it is hard to know where to begin! Fast growing perennial shrubs, climbers / creepers which do well in large containers / large pots, include: Allamanda, Antigonon — Sandwich Island creeper, Asparagus plumosa, Beaumontia grandiflora, members of the Bignonia family, Plumbago, Bougainvillea, Clerodendron, Quisqualis indica — Rangoon creeper, Passion flower / fruit, grapes, Jacquemontia violacea, Jasminium, Tecoma grandiflora — trumpet vine, various Solanum, Hibiscus, Ixora, Jatropha, Frangipani and more. Annual climbers, some with very rapid growth indeed, include members of the Ipomea family such as morning glory, Thunbergia — black eyed Susan, sweet peas, climbing nasturtiums and many more.
Q. I have a 500-square yard plot adjacent to my home in Karachi. For this I want to set up a hydroponic system to grow vegetables and berries. Is there someone in Karachi who can train me for this project?
A. A very ambitious project — especially if you can combine vegetable growing with fish production. I have doubts about the berry aspect though as, with the exception of strawberries, berries are highly unlikely to tolerate the Karachi climate. I suggest that you approach the ministry of agriculture, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council; perhaps even the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research as well as the Horticultural Society of Pakistan in your hunt for a teacher. An actual, physically present teacher is, in this instance, far better than randomly searching for information on the internet as you need to learn about climate and location specific angles. Wishing you all the best and look forward to hearing how you get on as other readers are bound to be interested.