Down To Earth

While a garden comprises several plants that beautify the area,some of these fulfill a purpose as well.

While a garden comprises several plants that beautify the area,some of these fulfill a purpose as well. An ideal example is the gulukand rose. Easy to sustain,unlike the normal T rose,this has flowers that appear in bunches and can be used to make gulukand as well. Multiplied by way of cuttings,the bloom of the plant should be cleaned carefully before it is used to make gulkand,as the flower attracts tiny insects.

The leaves of the lemon plant that I had planted last year are turning pale,and the peach leaves are falling. What could be the reason and please suggest a remedy?
Savita,Panchkula

Do not worry. The peach is bound to shed leaves in winter as it goes dormant now and the lemon leaves also naturally pale with the onset of winter. These recover on their own. However,add good quality farmyard manure to the plants.

Which fertilizer should be applied to add nitrogen to the fruit trees? Will the application of farmyard manure be sufficient? My mango tree is five years old.
Parneet Kaur,Mohali

For the application of nitrogen alone you can add urea,but there are fertilizers like diammonium phosphate that provide both phosphorus and nitrogen to the soil. For adding nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium to the soil,try NPK. Only the application of farmyard manure is not sufficient and chemical fertilizers are required.

How many cuttings should one take from palak and methi. How can we increase the number of cuttings?
Satwant Singh,Mohali

Palak and methi planted once in winter continue almost all through the season. You can normally take four to five cuttings. Every cutting should follow a dose of nitrogenous fertilizer,which increases the quantum of vegetative growth and leads to maximum number of cuttings.

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Is it too late to plant leek,onion,celery,parsley and so on? Where can I get the seedlings?
Roopinder Singh,Chandigarh

It is now time to plant these vegetables. Go ahead and enquire about their availability in the grain market or some leading nurseries.

For gardening queries ASK DR GREEN at satishnarula@yahoo.co.in

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