Q. I came across one of your articles, titled ‘The Flower of Relief’, which was published in February this year. I want to know if I can get seeds of Maryam Booti for cultivation or authentic Maryam Booti herbs here in Pakistan.

A. The Maryam Booti, or the Rose of Jericho, usually grows on barren land or in the desert. It is, therefore, more commonly found in parts of Africa and Saudi Arabia. However, it is being used throughout the Muslim world. I am yet to come across anyone in Pakistan who is commercially selling seeds of Maryam Booti flowers for gardening. There are multiple Pakistani vendors selling Maryam Booti herbs on social media platforms and at premium prices. Whether the herbs being sold are authentic or not depends largely upon the conscience of the seller.

Q. I am writing to you to learn some safety tips to care for my spinach plant. On multiple occasions, birds have eaten the spinach leaves that I grow. Looking forward to some guidance.

A. Spinach is a sought-after leafy vegetable for kitchen gardeners, as it is easy to grow. It can also be grown in abundance, including in very limited spaces, due to its relatively small root size. You may grow it around any other potted plant within the same pot. A dedicated seed bed of spinach would ensure continuous supply of spinach for family meals.

All your gardening queries answered here…

Protecting spinach leaves from birds would require application of a few easy manoeuvres, as birds are attracted to fleshy, watery leaves in scorching summers. For starters, you may install a green net as a cover. Hanging CDs [compact discs] in between the plants also scare the birds away, as they reflect beams of sunlight. Putting up a scarecrow also shoos the birds away. If you are a nature lover and love the sight of birds around, then it would be much better to place bowls of water and food for the birds. This way, instead of chomping on the spinach, the birds would simply get their requirements fulfilled from the bowls.

Q. My bougainvillaea plant is not flowering. It is only producing leaves. It bloomed a few flowers in the last couple of seasons, but nothing this time around. What can be the possible problem and how should I deal with it?

A. I simply adore the blossoming hedges of the bougainvillaea plant, as it accounts for one of the most classical looks, with flowers falling on the ground with a pink, white and green cover overhead. The reason for your plant not flowering can be multiple. First of all, one of the most common reasons is overwatering. The plant easily survives and, instead, produces more flowers even when it has not been watered for three to four days. The watering schedule can be adjusted to once or twice a week as the bougainvillaea is referred to as a plant that likes periods of droughts.

Similarly, if your plant is in a pot, make sure to move it into a place of maximum sunlight exposure. A minimum of six hours of sunlight is mandatory for better flowering. Finally, switch from nitrogen-rich fertiliser options to fertilisers that are rich in phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen ones are usually given to produce more leaves, while the latter two help the plant to grow more flowers.

Q. I have grown a few cabbage seedlings in the open space of my house. Thankfully, all of these grew very well in shape and size. I feel highly satisfied. I want to know the ideal time to harvest the cabbages. When are they ready for consumption?

A. It is really heartening to come across the photographs of cabbage in your garden. When it comes to harvesting the cabbage head, you have to take a few points into consideration. First of all, on touching and pressing, it will feel more solid, compact and cabbage-like, as the earlier separated leaves would start to tightly close-in together. If there is a crack or splitting present on the surface, usually just on the central axis, then it means that it has fully matured and watery. It also indicates that it is high time to make the much-needed harvest and have a crunchy, healthy salad for dinner that day!

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, November 24th, 2024