Winter Bloom

This winter when you are in the process of planting winter annuals, try another flower, the Ranunculus. So far available in only one or two colours...

This winter when you are in the process of planting winter annuals, try another flower, the Ranunculus. So far available in only one or two colours, it is now available in a range of white, pink, yellow, lemon yellow and red amongst others. This free flowering plant is suitable for planting in pots, as border due to its little height or in beds for mass effect. The blooms are bold and rose-alike and are borne on long stock. It is a good cut flower.

I have been advised by a friend to plant red flowering trees or shrubs in a particular direction of the house. Can you suggest plants with red flowers suitable for this area?
Ashok Kumar, Chandigarh
There are many plants with red flowers like Gulmohur tree, Clarodendron and Jhumka bel climbers and poinsettia and gulmohri shrubs.

I am new to Chandigarh and have come from high altitudes. I am fond of peach, plum, apricot and cherry fruits. Can I plant them here? If so, when are these planted?
Anu Verma, Panchkula
You can enjoy all the above said fruits here except cherry, which is essentially a fruit of high altitudes. These fruits are deciduous in nature and shed leaves in winter to go dormant. This is the only time of the year when these can be planted.

I contacted one of the dealers of fertilizers and he told me that he had NPK fertilizer with him which, however, he could not explain to me. What is this fertilizer and what is its constituent? Is it safe to apply in flowering beds?
Nasib Singh, Mohali
NPK is a mixture of Nitrogen, phophorus and potash fertilizer that comes in 12:32:16 ratio which means a 100 gram of it has in layman8217;s language, 12 gram of nitrogen, 32 gram of phosphorus and 16 gram of potash. Yes, you can safely apply it in flowering beds.

My Kinnow tree has borne a few Kinnow fruits for the first time. A few fruit fell down about a fortnight back. These are not sweet and are acidic. What is the reason and will I get only this quality of fruit?
Sangeeta, Chandigarh
No, do not get disheartened. The fruits you have consumed are still not ready. Even till date, Kinnow is not ready for plucking though fruits have changed colour. The Kinnow is at its prime only in the second fortnight of January.

Ask Dr Green at satishnarulayahoo.co.in