The first instalment of the Root Awakening column for the month of July 09 was published yesterday. As usual, answers were provided for three gardening questions sent in by the readers of Straits Times Life!
One of the first questions revolves around the growing of fruit trees. This time, its about the rambutan. A reader asked why his/her rambutan tree fruits tend to fall off prematurely. Rambutans need a prolonged dry season to trigger flowering but they need to be well-irrigated to reduce the likelihood of water stress that will lead to premature abortion of young fruits.When a tree has started to produce fruit, remember to provide water to the tree. A ring of well-rotted compost can be added and bone meal supplementation can help to boost fruiting.
The second question asked why the leaves of the pomegranate dried up. The symptom described can be due to a number of causes. The plant may be grown in an overly windy condition. Young leaves can dry up as a result of strong, perpetual winds. Leaves could also dry up due to mite infestation. Mites can cause leaves to roll up and become distorted which eventually dry up. Cut away affected parts and spray with white summer oil to control mite population. It could also be due to insufficient light as pomegranate is a shrub that requires at least 6 hours of direct sunshine to grow. Overwatering may be a reason as well. Soil for growing pomegranate needs to be kept moist and not wet. Let soil dry out a little before watering again.
The last question enquired whether can subtropical fruits like avocados and lemons be grown in tropical Singapore. These trees can be grown in Singapore as they thrive and attain best quality in summers where there are longer daylight. It is best to buy ready plants that are known to produce in lowland tropical climates from local or overseas nurseries. Lemon can be grown in pots but fruits may not turn yellow when grown here.
