Juicy pomegranates
Q. I planted a pomegranate sapling in my garden just over three years ago. It fruited for the first time this season but all 30 pieces of fruit were infected. How can I protect the fruit next season?
A. It would be of great help if you explained what the fruit is ‘infected’ with. Is it insects, worms or — as I suspect it — black mould? Black mould
generally infects fruit which has split, so the best thing to do is to prevent the fruit from splitting. However, if you’re asking about an insect infection, please do let me know.
Help is on the way for all your gardening problems
Fruit — not just pomegranates but citruses as well — splits when the soil has been allowed to dry out around the roots and then, all of a sudden, is given a heavy dose of water due to irrigation water or rainfall.
As with many other fruits, the roots of pomegranate and citrus should not be starved of water when either flowering or fruiting. If you are unable to water regularly, apply and maintain a thick layer of moisture-conserving mulch. Regular watering is an absolute must for fruit trees in production otherwise they will suffer from fruit drop, small-sized fruit or dried-out fruit.
Q. Where can I get good quality, organic seeds in Karachi? I want seeds for organic rocket, spinach, lettuce, etc.
A. I suggest you check Empress Market or do an internet search for an organic seed supplier in Pakistan.
Q. The soil in my potted plants has become white around the edges. Even the top layer of soil seems white and hard but sometimes soft when rubbed. Should I be concerned?
A. Your soil is a white colour due to build up of salinity — either originating in the soil itself or from the water used for irrigation or due to a combination of both. Not all plants tolerate high levels of salinity. If possible, change the soil every six months or so and try filtering water before applying it. Salinity, in soil and water, is a common problem throughout the plains areas of the country and is extremely difficult to control.
Q. I recently moved into a house with a garden in Islamabad. I want to grow flowers and plants to adorn the house both inside and out but have no previous experience. Please suggest a website for basic gardening tips and also give suggestions on which flowers and plants can be grown in this season.
A. Studying this weekly column should help you on all fronts. Pay special attention to the column appearing on the first Sunday of each month as this provides information as to what to plant over the following four weeks.
Q. Where can I find watercress and avocado in Lahore and what are their Urdu names?
A. Watercress is either gageer or jargeer in Urdu and avocado is magar nashpati. If you are looking for plants then please check upscale nurseries but if you want the actual fresh produce then some specialist markets and supermarkets stock them when they are in season.