Project Spring 2014

[Syed Adnan]

Dear Farhan,

one question regarding the PAK Nursery technique of seed germination.

Where the place the pots after germination of seeds , in sun or shade, as you have mentioned they give very less water, low watering can kill the seedlings immediately if placed under the sun within a few hours.

[Farhan Ahmed]

It was a total failure, i do not recommend this method especially if the seeds are any different than the common varieties here. They place it in partial sun and water retention they claim is because of the nature of media. However in my case the media was so hard that water altogether failed to penetrate.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

It was a total failure, i do not recommend this method especially if the seeds are any different than the common varieties here. They place it in partial sun and water retention they claim is because of the nature of media. However in my case the media was so hard that water altogether failed to penetrate.

Seed germination was a problem for me but this year I had the best results.
I used 70% peat, 30% perlite in Kunali/Kunda as illustrated above in my post, drenched it with water until the water came out of drain holes, left them for an hour to drain, sprinkled the seeds on the surface and covered them with dry peat, the layer of dry peat according to size of seeds, then I placed a double folded news paper on it and gently pressed it and sealed the pots in a tunnel of polythene for a week (no peeking).
That is what I would be doing in future.

[Syed Adnan]

@ Brig Arif: If you remember this is what i was totally convinced before as well, this can never resulted into dry/overwater conditions. I have done it successfully in the past but i used less peat moss and totally depending on sand/potting soil mixture 50-50%. (Potting soil contains PeatMoss already. This gives the best carefree results.

@ Farhan: Seedling/seeds may die because of atmospheric temperature more than any other reasons. The range of temperature 15 to 25 Day/night is best for most of the seeds. This comes in Oct end/Nov start in PAKISTAN.

Iam highly suffering from adult plant PANSY/MARIGOLD and CARNATIONS root fungus problem. we dont have seedlings (paneeri) available here, grown plants about to bloom are available imported from Europe. I am struggling to keep PANSIES/MARIGOLDS alive in my Containers. With solarization/careful watering/ low Nitrogen fertilizer/ adding Trichorderma , Cornmeal/Biochar, Vinegar have improved results though.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Early blooms of unusual.
Calendula Green Heart

Layia Elegans

Poor Man's Orchid


Sweetpea Streamer, size is twice the bloom of regular peas

Linaria Taller species

Malva Merlin

Calendula Touch of Red


Emila Scarlet magic/Irish Poet

Osteospermum Asti

Dimor Aurantica


Nasturtium fragrant Giants, its very unusual vine type. Roots where ever stem touches

Wild Pansy

[Mustansir Billah]

Amazing. I loved all the flowers! None can be rated... I wonder why this orchid is called poor mans orchid.

[S.Ahmed]

Calendula Touch of Red is simply stunning!

[Tahir Khan]

Farhan bhai, your pictures are always a wow factor...what camera are you using ?

My calendula green heart are in full bloom and sweet pea streamers of the same colour that you have is on bloom right now.. some other plants are throwing buds..lets see what other colours are there in the mix

[Asim_Nawaz]

Dear Farhan
Nice full bloom of Orchid, Malva, Calendula and Sweet Pea. Specially pictures can catch the eyes of viewers.

[Izhar]

Your Dimor has much more blooms, mine has grown very large vegetatively, but the blooms are less... i am suspecting the extensive use of composted manure for this....