Greetings from Lahore

[MSaeed]

Hello

I just joined this forum, even though I have been reading articles from here with a lot of interest for quite sometime. It is certainly an excellent forum and the tips are very useful. I am from Lahore and I moved houses around three years ago, next to a graveyard with huge big beautiful tree. I love the trees but I cannot seem to have success with growing anything. Looking forward to suggestions from other members as to what I can plant successfully in the shade of a jaman and tali tree. Tried tomatoes, aubergines, vincas, putenias etc etc. but no success so far...all our traditional flowers and veges require full sunshine....but I am still trying...i love to plant from seeds and love to experiment with cuttings.

MSaeed

[khabbab]

Welcome to the forum. I successfully grow annuals under my neem tree. Because i prune my tree in december so full sun is available to the annuals. Annuals do not have deep roots to indulge with that of trees. Pansy tolerates some shade so better option than petunia. Cineraria is also shade tolerant. Geraniums i have heard grow good under trees. I am even trying to grow a gardenia under my tree

Will not advise growing veggies under or around trees. Are you sure the soil is loose, contains nutrients and have good drainage?

[Izhar]

Welcome to the forum.. you can try impatiens, coleus, begonia, salvia, cordyline, agpanthus, clivia, philodendron, syngonium, monstera, money plant, ground orchids etc in shade..

[MSaeed]

Thank you for the suggestions. I would love to prune the trees, but since they are in the graveyard I cannot do it and hence the shade remains. I am experimenting with potato growing too. If they harvest successfully, I will proudly tell everyone! I also planted some salad leaves from the local nursery and they seem to be doing very well.

Cineraria does sound promising. I bought some cineraria seeds and its saplings will soon be ready for planting. I'll let you know about this experiment. I also have planted coleus cuttings but maybe right now its too cold for it. I will buy its seeds in January and try them again. When is the best time for geranium seeds?

best regards
MSaeed

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

RELAX AND ENJOY.

[Izhar]

Saeed, you can post your queries in the "Question and Answer" section... however, the best season for sowing geranium seeds was in October, now you can buy seedlings..