Down To Earth

One of our readers,Neetu,has sent us this accompanying picture of rose bud with black margins.

One of our readers,Neetu,has sent us this accompanying picture of rose bud with black margins. She complains that the blooms are not opening properly and wants to know the reason. Well,whenever there is blackening of the margins of the blooms,it means they are suffering from frost injury and thus,fail to open properly. The weather is going to remain cold for a few more days. Once the weather opens up,the blooms will start opening properly,which will happen during their second flush in the end of February. Till then,keep watering the beds at weekly intervals.

I planted winter annuals some time back but they are not showing any growth. I have added enough fertiliser and manure. What could be the reason?

Swatantar,Chandigarh

The winter annuals suspend growth during winter for some time. As the weather opens up,the plants will show signs of growth once again.

Please suggest what is the best time to plant the rose. And where can I get good quality rose plants?

Manoj Kumar,Panchkula

The best time to plant roses is now. You can get roses from any nursery. There is nothing special about it. You can chose the plant according to the colour of the bloom. Normally,the plants sold at nurseries show blooms,though small in size,due to the early ageing of the plant. Better choose HT varieties.

I have to prune my peaches. What is the procedure?

Savita,Panchkula

Peach bears on one-year-old shoots. It is better to remove 40 percent of such shoots from the tree for better yield and quality. Dont worry,it will not effect yield. Remove strangulating branches and those going straight up above the tree. Also,remove any branch coming below the graft union.

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Are there any precaution to be kept in mind while in case of peach and plum plants. I have two trees of each in my garden. At what age do they give fruit?

Rajesh,Mohali

Add fertilisers and manure as per the age of the trees. The peaches and plums normally bear fruits in the third year of planting. At the end of this month,spray them with rogor or metasystox,dissolved at two millilitres to one litre of water.

For gardening queries,ASK DR GREEN at

satishnarula@yahoo.co.in

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