Gardeners, Mark your Calendars!

Coming weeks are packed with exciting events that gardeners living in Karachi must not miss !



Bonsai Master Charles Cerenio's Workshop
Organizer : Bonsai Society of Pakistan ( www.pakistanbonsai.org)
Days :Thursday 17th Feb,2011 - Sunday 20th Feb, 2011
Time :5pm to 7 pm
Venue: Zamzama Park( gate 2)
 Fee: 2500 Rs for non members 1000 Rs for members (membership fee: 500 Rs)

Call Khuram 0333 2309772 if you are interested as seats are limited.



Kitchen Garden Workshop and Practical Demonstration
Topic: 1 Acre or at least 16 square feet for each women 
Organizer: The Green Initiative ( Shirkat Gah www.shirkat.org)
Day: Tuesday 23rd Feb, 2011
Timing : 9:45 am to 4 pm ( lunch and refreshments will be served)
Venue : PACC (Pakistan American Cultural Center), 11 Fatima Jinnah Road, Karachi.

Its free !!!
For details call : Jaleel 021- 35831140

Important note: Each organization can  register 3 members. If you wish to participate as a member of Greener Karachi Trust (Sabz Shehri) , kindly send an email to crops.in.pots@gmail.com with your complete postal address, email and contact number. We have only 2 seats left.
You can always register your own organization by contacting on the number given above.



And finally,

The 60th Pakistan Flower Show 2011
Organizer: The Horticulture Society of Pakistan
Starting from 24th Feb,2011 (6pm to 11 pm) 25,26,27th Feb, 2011 ( 8 am to 11 pm)
Venue : DHA Sea View Park

for details : 021 35881158 

Mark your calendars !

Happy Gardening!

Zahra

I grow peanuts. Do you?

It’s that time of the year when we all love to cuddle up in warm comforters and give ourselves a treat of roasted peanuts. Have you ever thought of growing your own peanuts?
Pick your peanut
There are four types of peanuts; Runner, Spanish, Virginia and Valencia. Runner is famous for making peanut butter. Spanish peanuts are known for their small size which is ideal for use as roasted snacks. Virginia has the biggest kernels while Valencia kernels are covered with bright red skin and are known for its sweetness. Simply select the one you like the most. Keep in mind the size, texture, flavor and also the use.
Perfect conditions
Peanuts are warm season crops and need four to five months of warm weather. In Karachi, the most suitable months to plant peanuts are from April to June. They can be planted directly into the ground as soon as the winter ends. Peanut plants need sandy and well-drained soil. If your city doesn’t get sufficient rainfall, provide your peanut plants with regular irrigation.
Tip: Save your favorite peanuts this winter for growing in the summers.
Peanut plant
Peanuts belong to the bean family. After two to seven days of sowing the seeds, bright green pinnate leaves sprout. The plant grows fast and its buds open up into yellow pea-like flowers with orange stripes. As the flower dries out and withers away, a stalk which is called the pedicel grows from it and goes down a few inches into the ground. This is where the peanut pods will grow and mature. The whole plant is pulled out when it is time to harvest.
Plot or pot?
Peanuts grow well in the ground or on a plot but growing them in a pot is almost the same. If you are using a piece of land to grow peanuts, plant a peanut kernel with a space of 12 inches between the plants and of 18inches between the rows. The plant spreads as it grows. For growing peanuts in pots, select a container 12-18 inch deep, with almost the same diameter.
Plant your peanuts
Once you have decided which type of peanut you want to grow and where you want to plant it, make holes one-and-a-half to two inches deep and put a peanut inside and cover it with soil. Make sure that the red or brown skin is not disturbed. Water it gently and keep it in the sun. Plant as many as you want.
I planted mine last May and the second batch in August. My peanuts did brilliantly in the ground as well as in the pots. It was a great learning experience for me and my students. They are saving some peanuts this season. Why don’t you save some peanuts as well this winter, for growing in the next season? You might end up saying the same, “I grow peanuts. Do you?”
Happy winters!
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2011.