Una, December 14 - Deputy Director of Horticulture KK Bhardwaj advised gardeners to take special precautions to protect fruit plants from fog in winter. He told that small and big fruit plants are greatly affected by fog. This may cause loss to gardeners. He has advised the gardeners of the district to take necessary steps to protect the fruit plants from fog. He has called upon the gardeners to immediately adopt fog prevention procedures.
The Deputy Director said that fog is common in low lying areas during the winter season. But it is necessary to prevent the impact of fog on plants. He told that fruit plants, especially mango and papaya plants, are adversely affected by fog. During the winter season, due to fog, the moisture present in the air turns into ice particles. Due to low temperature, plant cells burst. Due to the effect of fog, fruits get spoiled and flowers start falling. Sometimes even in the coming years, fruit plants give less yield. The effect of fog has been found to be greater on plants like mango and papaya etc.
Gardeners should adopt these measures to protect themselves from fog - Bhardwaj
Bhardwaj said that it also affects vegetables, due to which sometimes 100 percent of the vegetable crop gets destroyed. He asked the gardeners to adopt measures to prevent fog. He said that fruit plants (mainly mango and papaya plants) should not be planted in fog-affected areas. Cover young plants (up to 4-5 years) with grass or reeds and keep them open to sunlight and wind in the south-west direction. Spray water on plants when there is a possibility of fog. If possible, irrigate the garden. Keep the plants covered with grass. He told that potash fertilizer should be given to the plants in approved quantity which increases their ability to tolerate fog. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer to plants before winter or during winter. He told that to protect the nurseries of fruit plants from fog, cover them with grass (chhapar) or shady net.
Apart from this, gardeners were urged to take advice from their nearest subject expert (horticulture) or Horticulture Development Officer or Horticulture Extension Officer for establishing new gardens. Along with this, get your fruits and plants insured under the reconstituted weather-based crop insurance scheme being run by the government so that the gardeners can be compensated for the financial loss due to possible loss in their produce.