Project Spring 2014

[Farhan Ahmed]

Yup.......its On. Until now God willing

Last year i could not share step by step , but this time i will try my best to go in deep details....
Please i will be requiring you help over here in all the aspects of planning and execution. Suggestion for planting schemes, combinations and growing advices are extremely welcome.


The initial breakdown includes:-

1. Seed selection & acquisition...........(Halfway done)
My next selection is based on mix of annuals and first year flowering perennials. Heirloom/Saved seeds from last season will account for less than 5%.
Selection includes some items that i have tried and are easy to grow locally, whereas quite a few are on experimental basis.

2. Game Plan(Garden Design and planting scheme) ( Time line- Started & an ongoing process)
a) Includes overall layout ( A cool season, Sun Garden)
b) Companion planting keeping in mind color combinations, some contrast, some mix & match.
c) Heights & layers.
d) Ornamental elements

3. Ground Preparation ( Will be undertaken starting Monsoon)
a) Beds Design
b) Use of Nanthra/etc for bordering beds( waiting for monsoon)
c) Hard pruning of trees around perimeter to avoid unwanted litter & reduce the ill effects of Melia Azadarek.
d) Procurement of Fertilizers, compost, seed starting mixes
e) Bed preparation ( in terms of soil amendments & fertilizers) ( Weeding)

4. Setting up of parameter fence (earlier one was removed) (Time line-September)

5. Creation of small temporary green house for half hardy species seed starting

6. Seed starting ( Time Line - Mid October)
a) Selection of pots/sowing containers
b) Selection of sowing media
c) Seed sowing ( as per best knowledge available for each specie) (99 % stock will be started with seeds)
d) Successes & Failures ( Re-attempt of sowing)

7. Transplanting onto final location( Mid November)

8. Erecting of temporary frost protection.

9. Procurement of pesticides and active combat strategies.

10. Procurement of spares if any.

11. Rain Protection strategies

12. Daily routine Jobs

13. Re-Fertilization programme

14. Pinching and Staking

15. Planting out of half hardy plants after frost/Removal of frost protection.

16. Contingencies (as and when required)

[Farhan Ahmed]

A little advance but i need advice on seed starting pots......I have had horrible experience with plastic containers and trays. In situ works best but everything can not be sown directly into ground due factors like tiny size, half hardy nature etc etc.

I am thinking of peat pots as a first option. Can anyone guide where to get(Pride seed have it on its stock list)? their usefulness and estimated cost??????

[Tahir Khan]

A little advance but i need advice on seed starting pots......I have had horrible experience with plastic containers and trays. In situ works best but everything can not be sown directly into ground due factors like tiny size, half hardy nature etc etc.

I am thinking of peat pots as a first option. Can anyone guide where to get(Pride seed have it on its stock list)? their usefulness and estimated cost??????

If you are sowing on a massive scale clay pots covered with coco coir would be best, peat pots will be an expensive option... cost was around 50 to 100 per pot depending on size.... i only saw them once in Islamabad Peshawar morr nurseries and they were a mere waste of money.

BTW what type of veggies are you growing this season.. I am going Totally Tomatoes this season INSHALLAH

[Farhan Ahmed]

I could not start any seeds this summer due to uncertain situation(except few zinnias).

Post Monsoon i will be focusing on Celosia and one odd other thing. I have no plans for veggies

Clay pot is an option but i want to experiment with something which is totally porous......Yes scale will be massive. I am looking forward to sow something like 100 species. Will be requiring atleast 75, 6 Inch pots even more if it is individual sowing cells. Kindly recommend an alternate, or maybe home made options. However no plastic

[Farhan Ahmed]

Kindly also suggest reasonable rate coco peat/coir & compost outlets in Rawalpindi/Islo

[Tahir Khan]

Here at Awan seed store Rawalpindi, coco coir was 60 rupee per standard size brick... i don't know what will be the price this season, peat moss is available at Awan garden center Islamabad at 400 rupees per kg.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Just Talked to pride seeds.

Their standard rate Rs.250 per pack of peat containers. These packs very in sizes and shapes and the container number, but the price is same.
For instance 12 cell tray/ pack of three (Rs.250)
3*3 inch Pots (24 Pots). Rs.250
2*2 inch pots(36) Rs.250

Some other items

Seed and Cutting Compost 100 Litre 1800 rs (Actual qty approx 30 Kg)
Multi Purpose ComPost 100 litre 1800 rs (Actual qty approx 30 Kg)
Vermiculite 10 - Litre 950 ( 3-4 Kg)
Perlite 10-Litre 850 (3-4 Kg)

[Tahir Khan]

Means, you have to buy all these items in bulk... whole packs.

[Farhan Ahmed]

I remember in an earlier conversation they informed that we can have small packs as well for compost etc.

Peat Pots is a package.

[Farhan Ahmed]

How about using peat pots used to deliver eggs at shops