Q. I have mosambi [sweet lime] and apricot trees in my backyard. They are carrying fruits but two to three fruits fall off every day. I want to know if it is a normal thing or do I have to do something about it?
A. It always helps when you mention your city and the age of the tree. It is not unusual for a few fruits to fall off these trees daily. However, it is a cause of concern when the tree starts shedding a large number of fruits simultaneously, or when immature and unripe small fruits start falling off. There can be multiple reasons for this: excessive or insufficient watering, exposure to high temperatures or heatwave, nutrient-deficient soil and pest attack. Assess which of these conditions apply to your tree and act accordingly.
Q. I read about a suggested preference to sow the seeds of a heat-tolerant tomato variety. Please guide me regarding tomatoes that are heat tolerant.
A. Indeterminate tomato varieties continue growing and producing fruit over a longer period than determinate varieties. These plants should be supported with stakes or trellises. Such varieties are often considered more heat tolerant, even when harsh weather and heatwaves impact fruiting.
Q. In one of your articles on coconut tree gardening, you mentioned coconut tree’s brown leaf as not being a concern, especially after transplanting. I recently shifted my coconut plants to their permanent position a couple of months or so ago. However, after completely shifting the plant, two of the five complete leaves turned brown. What can be done? I am watering the plant amply, as required. It is exposed to Karachi’s sunlight. Please suggest.
A. It seems that your coconut plant is suffering from transplantation shock. You mentioned ample watering but, sometimes, during early stages, irregular watering can also be detrimental for the coconut tree. It is possible that the roots of the tree are still adjusting to the new location, inhibiting growth early on. As long as your plant has an intact central leaf that is green and healthy, there is nothing to worry about. The plant should recover soon and begin producing healthy green leaves and, hopefully, some coconuts soon.
Q. I thought of an experiment while eating avocado purchased from a local supermarket. I saved its seed, then wrapped it in a wet tissue and left it in a dark space, while enclosing it in an airtight jar. After a few days, when its shoots appeared from the cut seed, I planted it in a pot filled with bhal matti [fertile soil]. I placed the pot in the courtyard, with exposure to light and air. I kept watering the pot periodically as well. Now, I want your advice on how to transplant it from the pot to my garden. I am in Lahore and have attached the recent pictures of the plant.
A. It is commendable that you are trying to grow a relatively rare fruit plant in Pakistan. In avocado’s case, transplantation should not take place in peak summers or peak winter months. The ideal time to transplant an avocado plant would be either during February and March or September and October. These months would be before or after the winter season. The plant looks very healthy but your pot seems a bit small for the plant’s liking. I would suggest transplanting it in the next few months. Simply make sure that the new location has direct access to early morning sunlight and is not exposed to afternoon sunlight. Avoid waterlogging and overwatering. There is no need to remove the seed. It will pass through its natural process of getting decomposed into the soil. During the early stage of its plant life cycle, it is important to install a green net or piece of cloth to shelter the plant from frost and fog. Both frost and fog can be detrimental to the plant’s growth in the early phases.
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, 31st, 2026