Down to earth: dr satish narula

With the onset of monsoon,the insects appear. We always look for them on the plant and miss the actual place where most of them hide,the underside of the leaves.

With the onset of monsoon,the insects appear. We always look for them on the plant and miss the actual place where most of them hide,the underside of the leaves. Aphids,jassids and scales find it convenient to stick to the underside of the leaf. While taking plant protection measures,one should spray the underside too. No doubt some of the insecticides are systemic in nature where side does not matter but it is better as these are contact insecticides too as whichever insect comes in contact dies. So be watchful and look beyond.

Is there no effect of insecticide if there is rain?
Mukesh,Chandigarh
There are certain systemic insecticides that go into the system of the plant and the insects that feed on such plants die. Such insecticides when sprayed,need a few hours dry spell,after that it does not matter and they do not get washed. They include rogor/metasystox etc.

How is a chicku ripened? How long it should be kept on the tree?
Rajinder,Panchkula
Pluck the chicku from the tree when it attains the size that you see in the market.Wrap it in paper and keep it in air tight carton. It will ripen in two to three days. If you want to enhance the process,keep a ripened fruit in the carton.

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Which flowering annual can I plant now?
Anuradha,Chandigarh
It is too late to plant any annual. At the most you can try portulaca as the cutting starts flowering immediately.

Can I start planting cuttings of chrysanthemum? How big should the cutting be?
Surjit Kaur,Chandigarh
What are you waiting for? Plant the cuttings immediately. The cutting should be four to five inches long. Remove the leaves leaving back the petiole and the terminal leaves for better success. Insert two third of it in pure sand. Keep the sand moist. Sand is porous and does not allow water stagnation. However,make sure there is no stagnation due to any other reason.

ASK DR GREEN for gardening queries at satishnarula@pau.edu

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Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India4 hr ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

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