Guava is one of those must-have fruits in the garden. Even where there is no space available in the small houses people put a tree even when though most of it goes out of the confines of the house. This is probably due to the fact that the tree is not much demanding in its requirements and still gives two crops a year. A rich source of vitamin C, a guava tree bears heavily. The gardeners should however be aware of the fact that from the trees available from local sources are of seedling type that bear inferior quality fruit. You can get good quality plants from PAU research station at Bahadurgarh near Punjabi University. Well, it is better to go and get a good quality fruit tree from there rather than repent later, after three to four years of hard work and financial drain.

Q: In one of the shows recently I observed that one of the matricaria plant pot that was small in height was given a prize but a pot with higher and bigger plant was not. Could you please enlighten on this?
Mukesh Kumar, Chandigarh
A: If you see from the international point of view, the matericaria pot should not be more than 10 inches high. What we get in the exhibitions is three feet high pots. However, one of these that is best from the point of view of conformity is given the prize.

Q: This year in the Rose Garden we saw a strange looking butterfly type antirrhinum that also got a prize. What kind of flower it is?
Savita Rani, Panchkula
A: This is called pestimon type flower and since it is different from others it was considered. However, this is not a new introduction this year. It was there last year as well.

Q: I am interested in a gurhal flower plant but the nurserymen do not seem to understand it. Can you give me the popular name of this plant?
Veena, Panchkula
A: Go and ask for a Hibiscus rosa-sinensis or China shoe flower.

Q: How is peperomea propagated? I have been told it can be multiplied from leaf. If so which part of the leaf?

Puran Singh, Mohali
A: You heard it right. Peperomea can be multiplied from leaf. Insert the petiole part of the leaf (the thread like extension that joins the leaf blade with main stem) in sand and keep the medium moist. After a few days a new leaf will emerge from the cut end.