March is the kind of ‘in-between’ month when it is all too easy, no matter how experienced the gardener, to put off what are really essential jobs with the excuse of “Oh, but this would be better done next month so I’ll wait”.

Yes, one can completely understand the logic behind this as some, perhaps even many, of those seemingly endless winter and spring seasonal flowers will still be putting on a gorgeous display so pulling them out and tossing them on the compost heap feels wrong. And, by ‘traditional’ standards, it is still a little early to begin sowing those heat loving species which liven up the garden through the long summer ahead — but times are not simply changing, they already have!

Unfortunately though, weather patterns are, thanks to climate change (this is no longer pending but is right here with us now), totally unpredictable. Even the meteorological department, never famed for its accuracy, can’t be blamed for the unexpected, un-forecast until ‘extreme weather events’ that have, especially over the last three to four years, become the ‘norm’ rather than the exception they once were, are almost upon us, .

And, if we humans are confused by all that this entails, just imagine how the plant world — individual species having evolved over centuries to survive and thrive under certain climatic conditions — feel about the destructive mess created by an industrialised society that, adding insult to extremely serious injury indeed, ridiculously expects plants to continue to behave as they did when growing conditions were, aside from the rare hic-cup, predictable and fairly standardised year in, year out.

The human race can — in stable societies boasting top quality, fully maintained infrastructures — accommodate a certain amount of average seasonal temperature fluctuation without going into decline. But this is far from being the case in the world of plants where, at least on a garden scale and, it is to be hoped, on an agricultural scale too, sensible intervention will chivvy things along.

Such ‘sensible’ interventions hinge on a variety of things: the introduction of flexible sowing times, experimentation with plant species not previously cultivated in a certain region, adjustments in water schedules with primary emphasis on water recycling and conservation and (where feasible and it should be on a purely garden scale) sensible, low cost provision of necessary shade along with protection from hot, drying winds.

In line with all of the aforementioned, it is the wise gardener indeed who, and I know that this means all of you, abandon any previously fixed ideas, no matter how traditionally engrained they are, replacing them with a highly flexible sowing schedule which also incorporates trying out new species of flowers, vegetables and herbs. While doing this the emphasis should be on edible/useful rather than purely ornamental, which are completely new to this part of the world.

I am fully aware that the introduction of ‘foreign’ plant species over the indigenous ones, I try so hard to safeguard and promote, goes right against the grain of what I have so strongly advocated over the years. But, I too have to change with climatic conditions and, as long as the introduced species are edible/useful, if we are to continue to eat home-grown, organic food, then it must be done.

Please note, however, that I am still, very firmly if not even more so, totally against any further introduction of ornamental plants which we, and the increasingly fragile water situation, can and must do without: Plant Protection Department get yourself into gear and those of you hanging on to those criminally wasteful ‘lush green lawns’, rip them out please!

Having, I hope, jolted you to attention, let’s now take a look at some — I say ‘some’ because you may come up with other ideas and, if you do I would like to hear about them and how things work out as we are all learning together — of the edible/medicinal/otherwise useful plant species which can, potentially, be started off this month.

Vegetables to be sown in seed trays/clay pots and then transplanted out into their growing positions — or into suitable pots/containers — once seedlings are large enough to handle, include:

Tomatoes: A personal observation over the years is that cherry tomatoes are far more resilient, to both heat and cold, than most other varieties of tomatoes. It also appears, again from purely personal experience, that the larger the tomato, those gigantic beefsteak ones for instance, the less able it is to cope with adverse weather conditions, be it heat/cold/wet/drought. I therefore suggest that you select either cherry tomatoes and medium sized, these may be round or plum shaped, for your main crop and, don’t forget, that in locations such as Karachi, with care, tomatoes can be cultivated all the year round if organic principles are adhered too.

Lettuce: Best grown in partial shade during hot weather, this is a thirsty crop but the amount of water needed can be considerably reduced if you mulch around the plants/in between rows with homemade, organic compost, chopped straw, shredded newspaper, opened out/cut up cardboard boxes, sawdust or chopped weeds — remember to pull weeds before seed heads form — hedge/grass clippings, fallen leaves, etc.

Aubergines: Instead of sticking with just the purple varieties, try to get your hands on seed for the delicious white ones, orange ones, pink, yellow, green or striped varieties which are often far superior in taste than the purple ones.

Capsicums and chillies: It is important to remember, a surprising amount of people simply do not know, that green capsicums and green chillies are unripe. They will, if left on the plants full term, turn red. Red capsicums taste sweeter than green ones and red chillies are hotter than their unripe, green, counterparts. Seeds for quite a colourful range of capsicums and chillies can now be found in the market.

To be sown direct in their growing position:

Spinach: Both thirsty and hungry but, under ideal growing conditions, extremely productive when treated as a ‘cut ‘n come again’ crop. Try leaf beet/Swiss chard for a change as it is more tolerant of hot weather. Also keep your eyes open for what are sold as ‘Chinese greens’ — these include various lettuce varieties, leaf mustard, amaranth and other leaf crops to be eaten either raw or cooked. Grow, in partial shade, as a cut ‘n come again crop.

Pumpkins, zucchini/courgettes and gourds in general: These generally require plenty of space, lots of organic feeding, plenty of water and unhindered air circulation to stave off attacks of mildew and mould.

Whoops! I seem to have gotten rather carried away this week — meaning that I am out of space way before telling you all the things intended! I will have to continue, after the next question and answer session, in a couple of weeks’ time. One last point before I go: Avoid purchasing hybrid seeds — opt for heritage ones instead so that you can harvest your own seed for follow-up crops rather than having to buy them anew.

Please send your gardening queries to

zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer will not respond directly by e-mail