New Year is the perfect time for all of you gardeners out there to get organised for the horticultural adventures looming on the horizon. To make things easier for you, the first Sunday of every month will now be dedicated to chit-chatting about gardening tasks to lose yourself in over the following weeks and, although it isn’t possible to be fully comprehensive in this allotted space, there should, hopefully, be enough information to steer you in the right direction.
Please note: guidelines relate directly to Karachi and it may be necessary to make adjustments if you happen to reside in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad or Peshawar where winter temperatures are lower than in coastal regions. Seeds suggested for sowing in Karachi this month may be better sown in February, or under glass, in other regions but as this varies from year to year depending on temperatures, use your own judgment please. As the year progresses seed sowing times converge for these areas, remaining the same until next autumn/winter when temperature differences emerge once more.
The vegetable gardenIt should be all go in the vegetable garden right now with both harvesting of autumn sown vegetables and sowing of spring and early summer varieties going on apace. Sowing lettuce seeds, a few at a time every week for a continuous supply of crunchy salad leaves, should be one of your top jobs right now and they can be sown directly where they are to grow or started off in seed trays for transplanting out when large enough to handle.
Lettuces are great gap fillers for flower borders as well as in the actual vegetable garden itself. They can also be cultivated one plant per 10-inch pot. Cut ‘n’ come again lettuce, the type harvested leaf by leaf rather than all at once, can be far more productive than actual ‘head’ lettuce.
Alongside lettuce or mixed in with it if you like, sow endive, mustard greens, pak choy, leaf beet, spinach, cabbage and cauliflower remembering to include some unusual coloured varieties if you can lay your hands on the seed. Aubergines and cucumbers can be sown now as can radish — try to get hold of some of the tangy Chinese varieties which are longer and sharper than the usual red salad radish — yams, garlic, spring onions, tomatoes of all kinds and, towards the end of the month, a few courgette seeds wouldn’t go amiss.
Many people, particularly overenthusiastic beginners and, on occasion, experienced gardeners who should know better, sow seeds far too close together for emerging seedlings to thrive; so please ensure that you do not fall into this trap. It is not necessary to plant all the seeds in a packet at once. Extra can be kept for later sowings or, if correctly stored, for the following season.
Autumn sown vegetables should be ready for harvesting now, indeed you may well have been harvesting for some time. Rather than letting any excess produce go to waste you can freeze it, turn it into chutneys, relishes and pickles, dry suitable varieties in the sun or in the oven, swap them with other gardeners for things you don’t have or simply give them away as gifts. In these days of rampaging inflation fresh garden produce, especially if it is organically grown, is always more than welcome.
The herb gardenSow coriander, chives, garlic chives, lovage, borage, aniseed, rocket, chervil, mint, thyme, oregano/marjoram, dill, lemon balm, hyssop and basil. Most herbs require a goodly amount of sunshine at this time of year and the leafy varieties enjoy good quality, humus rich soil that is well drained. Thyme, oregano/marjoram thrives in not so good soil and in partial shade as does mint. Watering is of prime importance and should be done in the evening hours so that plants have all night to drink their fill.
Autumn sown herbs, this should be all of the above plus species such as sage, should be ready for harvesting and drying by now. Cut the herbs and tie them in bunches to be hung upside down to dry in an airy place out of direct sunlight and, once fully dry (drying time varies depending on leaf type) store them in airtight containers for future use. Herbs can also be frozen and used directly from the freezer.
The flower gardenYou can make sowings of zinnias now for late spring/early summer blooms. These bright and breezy flowers are extremely simple to grow and geminate rapidly. They can be sown directly in the soil or in seed trays/pots for transplanting out at the four to six leaf stage. Be certain to allow plenty of space between seeds as, if they are sown close together, the resultant seedlings are thin and weak and will not grow into strong adult plants.
You can also sow any of the following: cornflowers, sweet sultan, poppies, larkspur, nasturtiums, Virginia stock and other annual species of a fast growing nature as they have just about enough time to grow and flower before hot weather burns them to a crisp. Take cuttings from your favourite geraniums and pelargoniums, from carnations and divide up chrysanthemums and day lilies. Rose bushes should be in the nurseries now so spoil yourself by purchasing a few as a treat but do remember to thoroughly check any nursery bought plants for pests and diseases prior to bringing them home as you do not want to bring problems with them.
Trees and shrubsCheck all the trees and shrubs in your garden for signs of damage and disease. Prune back damaged parts to clean wood, treat diseases and infestations organically. Prune back overgrown shrubs and creepers and generally tidy them up. Feed trees, shrubs and creepers with organic manure/compost to prepare them for the growing season ahead. Plant new trees, shrubs and creepers in carefully prepared ground or in large pots/tubs with support if needed. Sow seeds of indigenous varieties now, starting them off in individual pots and keeping them there until they are established enough to take transplantation shock in their stride.
Other tasksIf you haven’t already started off a compost bin or heap then get down to it now. Give your garden area, balcony, courtyard or wherever it is you grow your plants, a thorough clean-up by removing any plant debris lying around, scrub out and disinfect empty plant pots and top up your stock of compost in readiness for more seed sowing and the propagation of cuttings next month. You could also take this opportunity to revamp your water storage and usage methods in readiness for the hot, dry months ahead when each and every single drop of water is at a premium.
Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. Answers to selected questions will appear in a future issue of the magazine. This takes time. The writer will not respond directly by e-mail. E-mails with attachments will not be opened. Please note: The writer’s garden is not open to the public.