In a stiflingly sultry summer afternoon, I sit in an orange tree shade, sipping a glass of mango lassi, carefully studying the lovingly nurtured plants around me. So which plants are coping best with the heat?

The orange tree, smothered in masses of fragrant blossom back in early spring, is still shedding an excess of baby fruits, magically retaining just as many as it is feasibly able to ripen. The tiny, hard, green fruits hit the ground with a dull thud, each time a whisper of breeze rustles the leafy branches.

The peach tree was previously heavily laden with fast ripening promise. Having mistakenly elected to grow, it was self-seeded and far too big to be moved, even before I came to live here. Its roots fail to take up enough water that it is offered regularly, so 75 percent to 90 percent of its fruit is destined to drop before ripening. Having experimented with various ideas to improve its water uptake and failed miserably, I am resigned to having a few sun-warmed and juicy peaches to pick, straight from the tree. This reminds me that when planting fruit trees, it is essential to select their location with more care than this self-seeded one displayed. As it is beautiful in spring blossom, provides summer shade and bird rest, I will leave it be.

Two five-year-old strawberry guava trees, grown from imported seed and now about 5ft tall with a nicely balanced spread, are blossoming prolifically. My mouth waters at the thought of the deliciously tangy fruit in July through [if I’m lucky] until December. This small purple-skinned, red-fleshed guava is produced in such unfailing abundance, that it is worth growing if you can hunt down the seeds.

A plant lover’s garden can be as lushly luxuriant as you choose to make it

My strawberry guavas planted in heavy-duty, black polythene dustbins with drainage holes drilled in the base, began fruiting at just 18 months of age. They are perfectly happy having their roots restricted and their branches pruned in January to keep them as large bushes rather than allowing them to grow to the height of 15ft or so, that they would, if planted directly in the ground.

They are perfectly happy in their small world, but just in case of problems, I have quite a few more coming along nicely.Propagated from seed harvested last year, if I don’t need them, friends will be happy to have them.

My garden is primarily in pots, with just a small strip of actual garden ground, and I am quite enjoying the challenge this represents.

From late winter until early summer when the heat really kicks in, it was a blazing palette of vibrant, floriferous, colour. The combined, heady perfumes of orange blossom, sweet peas, Persian roses, Asiatic lilies and various aromatic herbs including lavender, thyme, rosemary, oregano, marjoram, and sage were absolute bliss.

Nasturtiums, mostly self-seeded from previous years, popped up all over the place, their fiery oranges, dazzling yellows and glowing reds competing with pink flowered oxalis, with pink, orange, red and bi-coloured geraniums, with brick hued wallflowers, with violas in every shade and colour combination you can think of and then some.

Swiss chard thrives in pots and trays, pumpkins and butternut squash are doing well in a series of bowls and basins and buckets, as are cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and chillies too.

This year, French beans are determined to claim pride of place. In early March, seed sown in black polythene dustbins having drainage holes in their bases, has performed magnificently by climbing up strings tied to a convenient support frame. Kept well-watered and well-fed with homemade organic compost tea, the beans are now in full production.

Their location is such that they provide a living green screen across a bedroom window thus helping to maintain indoor coolness with relaxing, filtered green light.

The garden/yard of a plant lover can be as lushly luxuriant as you choose to make it. Don’t let lack of space hold you back. Grow into the challenge.

Seed sowing suggestions for July

The flower garden: Cosmos, candytuft, Virginia stock, matthiola/night-scented stock, balsam and zinnias. Thinking ahead to winter and next spring: Sweet Williams, wallflowers, hollyhocks, malvas, dahlias, scabosia, begonias, antirrhinums, salvias, carnations, gerberas, gazanias, rudbeckia, gaillardia and ‘cineraria’. Make statements with echiums verbascum, digitalis/foxgloves and lupins. For pots and bedding plants try sowing bedding geranium and pelargonium seeds and nurse them through the winter

The vegetable garden: Autumn, winter and spring varieties of cabbages and cauliflowers, plus, towards the end of the month, broccoli, calabrese, kale, Brussel’s sprouts, Swiss chard/leaf beet and both autumn and early winter varieties of lettuce. Start off final crops of bitter gourd, aubergines, okra and capsicums and try another crop of courgettes/zucchini too. Carrots and beetroot can go in now, as can celery, spring onions, spinach, radish, kohlrabi, endive, and mizuna in the shade. Give tomato seeds a break until the middle of September as, during the summer monsoons, they rapidly fall victim to blight and mildew.

The herb garden: Nasturtiums, ‘calendulas’, borage, coriander, chives, garlic chives, dill and basil.

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com.
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Published in Dawn, EOS, July 3rd, 2022