Q. I read your column regularly. May I suggest you provide the names of all plants in Urdu as well, since many nurseries do not have staff who understand the English names. It is also frustrating looking for a plant if you, like me, have limited mobility and cannot walk too much. I would be grateful if you could let me know what to ask for when I go looking for the ‘Butterfly Bush’ featured in the January 7 issue.

A. Your suggestion is duly noted. I usually mention the scientific and common name in my articles for convenience. Please note that, since the Butterfly Bush is not a common plant in Pakistan, it is highly likely that many of the staff in nurseries would be unaware of the plant. Many online plant-sellers sell the Butterfly Bush with the same name on different social media platforms. I have even seen a few online sellers selling it with its scientific name, ie Buddleja davidii. A few gardeners from Islamabad and the Murree region would call it Baldia as well. Our readers are welcome to write to me if they know other local names for the Butterfly Bush.

Furthermore, regarding your limited mobility concern: please note the growth of the Butterfly Bush is not only uncontrollable but it requires regular interventions. It occupies a lot of garden space, if potted directly into the ground; in certain regions, it is also considered as weed. The Summer Lilac plant would need regular pruning so as to keep its uncontrollable growth in check.

All your gardening queries answered here

Q. I am an avid reader of your columns but, regrettably, missed the last few months of your pieces because of some personal medical reason. I have five lemon plants in my small garden but, of late, I can see there are a number of different issues with the plant and leaves. It may be due to the weather or I may need to provide them with some fertiliser or a spray. Can you advise if you’ve addressed this issue in a past issue. I live in Islamabad.

A. Over the last few months, I have addressed two queries pertaining to the lemon plant having more or less the same issues. They were printed on November 26 and December 31. You can find them online.

Q. I purchased treated seeds of tomato from a seed store and grew two plants. I followed all the instructions mentioned on the packet and took advice from discussions of different gardeners at the time of sowing seeds. The plants grew well and are potted in a big-sized pot. All was well until fruiting began. All tomatoes have a brown or black base, as shown in the attached photographs. One of my relatives told me that the plant needs NPK, lack of which results in immature fruit. I provided the plant with commercially made NPK, mixing it with the soil, but there is no change. Should I remove the plant and grow it all over again? Please advise.

A. First of all, no need to discard the plant. Even if it does not provide you with your desired result, it will definitely provide you with hands-on experience. I am assuming you have planted it in a pot of at least 12 inches in height and 12-inch breadth. According to the images of the tomatoes you sent, they all have the characteristic feature of a very common disease — the Blossom End Rot. This disorder is usually manifested by brown to black rot occurring at the end of the tomato.

Your relative was partially right that Blossom End Rot usually occurs when the plant is deficient in a nutrient; which, in this case, would be calcium. However, this does not necessarily equate to soil deficiency of calcium. Indeed, there is very rare chance of any garden soil being calcium deficient to such an extent so as to cause Blossom End Rot. The issue does not seem to be calcium availability in soil but rather the calcium uptake by the plant from the soil via roots, using different methods of absorption, all the way to the top. In my opinion, you should recheck your watering schedule and quantity. It is likely to be less water in quantity or decreased frequency of water which, in turn, takes along different nutrients including calcium, albeit in lesser quantity. Correct your watering and the issue should, hopefully, resolve automatically.

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, January 28th, 2024