Q. I read your article on growing brinjal a few months ago. As a result, I sowed brinjal seeds in big pots, which can hold around 10 gallons, here in Peshawar. I have followed all the guidelines mentioned in your article, adhering even to those mentioned on the seed packet. The plant grew well initially and also sprouted light purple flowers. But one after another, all of the flowers started falling off the plant. We have not got a single brinjal out of our four plants so far. What could be the issue? I am following a strict watering schedule, and the plant is exposed to sunlight from the afternoon till the evening.

A. There can be a number of factors due to which flowers may fall off your plants without turning into fruit. You can try out different methods to remedy this issue one by one. During the flowering stage, the first modification you can make is to reduce the water quantity. Overwatering is usually the most common issue with flowers dropping, as in your case. If you are using nitrogen-based fertilisers, then they should be replaced with a fortnightly feed of potassium-based fertilisers during the flowering phase. If possible, you should change the location of your pots to a place where the sunlight exposure is from morning to noon instead of noon to evening.

The latter duration of sunlight is usually very harsh for plants, especially flowers. Finally, if the place is not windy and there are no natural pollinators like butterflies and honey bees moving around your plants, then you may need to physically tap the base of the flower lightly every now and then. It will help your flowers with pollination. The issue with your plant can be any combination of any of the factors mentioned above. We hope this will address your query and help your plants start to bear purple fruit.

Q. I am planning to grow cucumbers in my garden. Could you please tell me where I can get cucumber seeds or seedlings in Karachi?

A. Cucumber seeds, pertaining to their different varieties, are widely available throughout Karachi at different seed stores located in the Sabzi Mandi area and in different seed shops located within Empress Market, Saddar. You may find the seedlings and small plants of cucumber varieties easily at any of the many roadside nurseries here. Just be careful about which varieties you opt for since the result of hybrid and other such varieties is better than the desi one here in Karachi, as compared to other parts of Pakistan.

All your gardening queries answered here…

Q. I read your article ‘Compost Modernism’ recently and found it very interesting. Since then, I have been trying to use this method for my planted flowers and herbs. I have gathered cardboard, grass clippings, twigs, dried leaves, fruits and vegetable peels, used tea leaves and egg shells. How long will these articles take to start decomposing? What is the waiting time until I may get the final product for my use? Should I wait for the process to complete or instead purchase the commercially available compost for this season? I live in Mardan.

A. If your usage is urgent, then you should definitely purchase compost from the commercially available options. The preparation of compost can take anywhere from two-and-a-half weeks to more than a year, depending on a multitude of factors. It is, therefore, almost impossible to predict when you can get your final end product. The only certain thing is that at the end of the process, the compost is dried and has that earthy smell instead of the powerful odour and stench that this pile is likely to carry throughout the decomposing phase.

The presence of factors like the aeration of this pile, watering, how frequently this pile is being mixed and turned over, whether new throwaway ingredients are being added to the pile, and what sort of bag, container or bin is being used to prepare this compost, all tend to contribute towards the length and duration of the composting process. Patience is the key here.

Q. I recently bought turai [sponge gourd] seeds in Karachi. What would be the best time to sow these?

A. You can certainly sow the seeds right away. The sponge gourd usually ends up being a bumper crop. Happy Gardening!

Q. I have a broken bathroom floor-wiper. Can I insert its stick in the pot of a plant to support my plant?

A. Yes, you may do this since there is no harm in doing so. If it is made of wood, there is no issue whatsoever, but if it is made of metal, it is likely to gather rust. In that case, you may need to avoid any injury being inflicted on your hands and therefore should use proper precautions like gardening gloves. In both cases, the sticks are likely to decompose over a period of time and you may need to discard them afterwards.

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, July 23rd, 2023