1. Which season does your region/country falls; and what are the best planting times and why are these times the best?

Ghana experiences two major seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season last usually between the months of April and October, and this is the most appropriate period for sowing seeds because crops require water for healthy growth. At this period there are frequent downpours and the ground is ‘wet enough’ so that additional watering would not be required for the plants. Unlike the wet season that is characterized by rains, the month of November to March which is a dry period is extremely hot and very little rain falls thus making it difficult for crops to grow. Through the use of water meant for irrigation, the hardworking farmers able to supply water to their plants can also manage to grow crops in the dry months, though it is harder.

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2. What is the importance of planting trees in the right place and in which places can trees be planted?

The location of tree planting is a matter that requires a lot of thought because in years to come this might pose a problem. Trees are living organisms that grow and if these are planted too close to houses, roads or electricity poles, there could be trouble in future. The kinds of problems that can be expected are that their roots grow into pavements or water pipes, while oversized limbs can break down structures. But when such trees are planted where its racemes grow into the ground for instance in parks, beside the roads and on the farms, they also benefit the environment in that they provide shade, purify the atmosphere and also guard against erosion of the rain beating down and washing off soil.

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3. What kind of fertilizers or organic fertilizers should be used to prepare the soil before planting?

For healthy plant growth, it is important that the earth is good quality, and the use of fertilizers aids in this as they provide the soil with the valuable elements. Some fertilizers are synthetically made and others are organic but organic fertilizers are usually preferable since they enhance the soil. In Ghana, there is often the commonly practiced use of compost generation from food scraps, plant leaves, or animal wastes to enhance the nutrients in the soil. This kind of fertilizer consists mainly of basic elements, for example, nitrogen which makes the plants grow high and green, phosphorus to give a solid to the plants, and potassium that helps to reduce diseases affecting the plants.

To add more nutrients into the ground, cow or chicken manure is used and at the same time retains the lightness and moisture of the soil which is ideal for crop growth. Organic substances nourish the crops but assist the soil in retaining more water and air to the roots, which is important as well for growth. In between there are also NPK fertilizers that most people apply, it is Instant for crops, and nitrate kills, and these do more harm than good to the soil if recklessly applied so strategy has to be employed when using these types of fertilizers during crop production.

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4. What is the correct method of using pesticides and fungicides for gardening and which pesticides/fungicides can be used?

At times, some plants are vulnerable to insect or other diseases which are very damaging if timely treatment is not given. It's when gardeners or farmers have to spray pesticide to kill the insects and anti-fungal chemicals to prevent diseases caused by fungi like molds or mildew. But this should be done safely. Firstly, they should be done in the early hours of the day or late evening time when it is relatively cool. This is to prevent deposition of the chemicals from over-evaporating and also avoiding harming welcome insects like bees, which are always out and about at midday.

Practically, in Ghana, people use neem oil as a common pesticide. It is manufactured from neem tree seeds and it is environmentally friendly. It is good when fighting against robbers such as aphids, caterpillars and whiteflies. For problems such as skin fungus, a skin fungicidal drug like a copper sulfate or pure sulfur will do. These products assist in the prevention of illness on the leaves or stalks but the gardener however has to exercise restraint in their usage on the plants since this will also increase the chances of developing better pest or fungi.

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5. What home remedies can be used to protect plants for the roof or back garden?

For gardeners who want to avoid using chemicals, there are such easy natural cures that can conserve the plants which are particularly useful for small gardens on rooftops or in the backyard. One common solution employed is a home remedy prepared by grinding and mixing garlic, chili pepper, dish soap and water. This can be used as an insect repellent spray for aphids killing plants or growing them and is safe for all.

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