Project Spring 2014

[mikhurram]

Farhan,

Food for thought....An Elizabethan Knot Garden

[Farhan Ahmed]

. Exquisite.

In my quest of defining what garden design inspires me, i am yet to clear out. Though i feel some sort of formality has to be there but not in totality. What Garden design describes you???

[Farhan Ahmed]

I am utterly surprised.
Germination in less than 30 Hours. On this instance i am experimenting with coarse construction sand as sowing media and it is proving very well.
Sowing Media comprised of 80% sifted coarse construction sand. 10% Peat Moss and 10% Compost.

The above mixture is not only showing water retention ability but also excellent drainage even in plastic pots. Cosmos, Marigolds and Lupins germinated within 30 Hrs and others are showing signs too.

I feel that sowing media should also be able to cater for our personal gardening mistakes. For instance i am in habit of keeping my media reasonably moist. i.e slight look of dryness and i tend to water it without even checking if its actually dry from below also. The above media in my opinion will cater for this folly of mine. Moreover i forsee little or no chances of damping off with sandy media.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Lupins ....Courtesy Tahir Bhai and Others Rafique Sb. ....Rafique Bhai your storing habits are good ...and as evident an year old seeds won't give up.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Other Thing that i have observed it that marigold germinate well if surface sown.

[Hamad Ahmed Kisana]

in fact weather is best i think for seed germination 2 days back i sowed freshly collected seeds of cone flower and today they are sprouting.i am surprised because i just sowed them thinking they will not sprout... good weather September ...i am inspired with your sand idea will use it..

[Farhan Ahmed]

Lets go full bore

[mikhurram]

My idea of a garden: formal but in harmony with nature. Below is a link about a elusive garden based in Islamabad which tends to resonate with my theme of a garden. Residents of Rawalpindi/Islamabad may have an idea about it.
http://archives.dawn.com/weekly/review/ ... view14.htm

Coarse sand being used is Lawrencepur Sand or Taxila Sand ? 2/3 rd of Coarse sand mixed with 1/3rd organic matter like leaf mold or humus is supposed to be ideal ideal for bearded irises which i plan to experiment.

For seed germination a media consisting of 1/3rd Coarse Sand and 2/3 rd of Cocopeat or Coir also enables seeds to germinate within a few days.

[aykhan]

You have used 'coarse construction sand'. Tried to look for it today, couldn't find any. Called a mason and he said the coarsest sand is from Lasbela usually not stocked in Lahore. People making plazas etc order it just the amount they need. So question is where did you get this coarse sand and do you know it's source?

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

I am utterly surprised.
Germination in less than 30 Hours. On this instance i am experimenting with coarse construction sand as sowing media and it is proving very well.
Sowing Media comprised of 80% sifted coarse construction sand. 10% Peat Moss and 10% Compost.

Farhan, Three years ago I switched over to sand for pots I used lots of leaf mold and Chemical fertilizers and am happy. I also created beds on the pavement with 3 inches of the same and planted Musambary and later portulaca with very good results.



I am now re-using the old pot soil with addition of leaf mold and for additional potting soil I would be using Ghasso.
Arif