Q. I have two date palms in my Lahore garden. They were brought here from Saudi Arabia three years ago. They are growing steadily but, every year, in the summer monsoon season, they get infested by termites. I use insecticide, bought from a local garden supply store, to get rid of the termites, but do not like having to use chemicals. Is there any organic remedy for this purpose? Both date palms get plenty of direct sunlight.

A. The following organic solution should deal with the termites for you. Mix half a cup of white vinegar with half a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, pour into a handheld, hand-operated sprayer. Spray directly on to the termites, every morning and evening, until the termites have vanished. If, after about two weeks of treatment, termites persist, switch to spraying the following organic treatment: three tablespoons of freshly ground coffee brewed up in two litres of boiling water, filter to remove all particles, allow to cool and then spray, morning and evening, until the termites have been wiped out.

Q. Is the weather in Islamabad suitable for growing a Gulmohar tree in my garden?

A. Gul mohur — ‘Poincina regia’ — will grow in Islamabad. Keep in mind that, at maturity, the tree can achieve a height of about 60 feet, and has an extensive root system too. Plant the sapling well away from underground/overhead cables, etc., and at least 25 to 30 feet away from building foundations as well. A sapling will appreciate winter protection — such as horticultural fleece — for the first couple of winters, while it gets itself firmly established.

Q. I grew Narcissus in my garden in Rabwah, last winter. They didn’t flower much but I still want to preserve their bulbs for the next season. How can I do this?

A. Simply leave the bulbs in the ground where they are. Hopefully they will grow stronger, multiply, and give more blooms next time around.

All your gardening queries answered here

Q. Larkana is being horrid to the flowers you recommended that I grow. They all withered within the first month of planting. Suggest something to save them.

A. Considering that there was only a two-week gap between planting advice being provided and your letter of complaint coming in, seeds, if they have germinated, will still be at the delicate seedling stage. If started off in trays/pots of good quality compost, kept in very light shade and carefully watered each evening, they will still be far too small for planting out. If, as with sunflowers, they were sown directly in correctly prepared soil and watered daily, they will still only be at the seedling stage. If, as you say, they have all withered, it could very well be that the level of care being given to them does not meet their essential requirements. Perhaps you would like to try again and, in doing so, provide the daily care necessary for success.

Q. Summer is coming and mosquitoes, too. Is there any plant or flower that acts as a mosquito repellent? I live in Mirpur Mathelo, in District Ghotki, where the water table is quite high and the soil is very salty.

A. There are a number of plants with mosquito repellent properties. These include: Marigolds and ‘tagetes’, lemon balm, lemon grass, mint species and different varieties of basil. Due to soil salinity in your location, it would be best to grow the aforementioned in pots/containers of bought in soil/compost. If your garden area is large enough, you may also like to plant a neem tree during the summer monsoon planting season.

Q. Can Har-singar be grown in Defence, Phase 5, Karachi. If so, where can I find the plant?

A. Har singar — night-flowering jasmine — can be grown in your location as long as it is fully protected from the sea breeze. It shouldn’t be difficult to find a plant in one of the larger local nurseries.

Q. I collected lots of seeds from my neighbour’s Dahlias last year. I took the seeds with permission, of course. I carefully harvested seeds from what had been the largest flowers only and saved these in airtight, glass bottles, in a dark cupboard, as you advised in an article a long time ago. I labelled each bottle with the colour of the flower the seeds were collected from. Now I need to know when I should sow the seeds. I am hopeful of achieving a display to equal that of my neighbour’s, whose garden is always beautiful.

A. Dahlia seeds should be sown in June and July in Karachi. Please do not feel disappointed but dahlias grown from seed rarely replicate the parent plants. Seeds collected from a red dahlia for example, may produce plants with yellow or purple flowers or even bi-coloured ones. Size and flower shape may be different too, with seeds from a double dahlia producing single flowers or even flowers with pointed, cacti-like blooms. If you want dahlias that are exactly the same as your neighbours, these need to be grown from cuttings.

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer does not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened

Published in Dawn, EOS, April 25th, 2021