Can I re-pot the plants I bought from the nursery?
Q. We often purchase pot grown plants whether they are in bloom or not: these may be seasonal plants or otherwise. Can these plants, be they in bloom or not, be transplanted / re-potted at any time of the year?
A. It is quite normal for seasonal plants that are in bloom, as purchased from nurseries, to be transplanted into larger pots / containers or directly into the garden as soon as they are brought home and, with care, the majority survive any shock. Perennial plants which are in bloom, are best left undisturbed, in the pots they were bought in, until after they have finished flowering; otherwise they suffer badly and some may not be able to summon up enough strength to get over having their roots disturbed at this, for them crucial time.
Q. For the second year running, I have bought kadoo seedlings from the National Agricultural Research Council in Islamabad. I do not know which variety of kadoo they are but I like them. The plant does beautifully and starts fruiting in abundance. The problem this year is, once the fruit reaches four to six inches in length, it starts turning yellow, then shrinks and falls off. The soil was fed with buffalo dung and the plants are watered after 5pm. The garden area receives good sun and is well drained.
Answers to your queries about potted plants, growing hyacinths, pineapples and tomatoes
A. Soil, water and sun conditions sound ideal for kadoos to thrive. The problem sounds like one of pollination. Quite often, an un-pollinated flower sets fruit which, exactly as you describe, begins to develop and then gives up, shrivels and drops: the rot starting from the flower / blossom end. A lack of pollinating insects / bees, possibly due to use of chemical interventions in and around the locality, may have interfered with or killed off these necessary insects; it is sad to say that this problem is increasingly common.
The only immediate solution is to hand-pollinate your kadoos. Just after dawn, when the kadoo flowers are fully open, carefully pick a long-stemmed, open male flower and dust its pollen onto the stigma (the protruding bit in the centre) of a female flower. Female flowers have a baby kadoo behind the flower itself instead of a long stem. This should do the trick. If chemicals are not being used in your location, next season plant lots of bee attractant flowers / herbs to try and entice beneficial, pollinating insects to your garden.
Q. Is polyfarming practiced in Pakistan and is the government giving any subsidy or training regarding this technique?
A. Yes it is, and the technique is gaining popularity. Check with your local Ministry of Agriculture office for relevant information.
Q. I have a piece of land near to Bhurban, Murree. The land is rocky with few trees or plants. What types of trees, shrubs and plants can I grow?