Gardening

You can grow any type of fruit in Spain, especially cherries, raspberries, strawberries etc. Most fruit require sun and water to flourish and Spain has that

ma?anaman,

Thanks for replying to my message. Since you are the only one, this leads me to believe that expats are not moving to Spain to garden, but perhaps just to eat and go to the beach.

I've already given up on the idea of growing apple and cherry trees as they require a certain amount of chilling time. I'm sure that they are probably growing in higher and cooler altitudes in Spain, but Valencia is a zone 10, like Florida or southern California.

If I may ask, which part of Spain are you living and how long have you been there?

Nancy

Hi,

My partner and I bought a house in the Jaen province last year. We are not currently living there permanently but have been renovating. The climate here is very hot in summer, often around 40 degrees and can be cold in winter. Our house in Martos is over 2000 feet above sea level. I see most types of fruit growing all over, and people sell fruit in stalls at the sides of roads.
Most towns and villages have houses built close together and many do not have gardens, and the ones that do are all used fro fruit and veg.

Wishing You Well

Ronnie

P.S. Sorry for the late reply buy my internet connection was down for over a week and I just got back online today.

The majority of expats have a few fruit trees, some even in tubs on apartment terraces. All you need you will probably find in the new book ...just a few weks old ...
GROWING HEALTHY FRUIT IN SPAIN - From strawberries to oranges and watermelons. ISBN 978-84-89954-62-5 PRICE 14.90 EUROS. SEE for a ful description and link to publishers mail order shop.
Covers growing of some 70 fruits ...what will do well obviouslt depends on your soil and microclimate.Both are fully covered in the book.

Greenfingers,

Thanks so much for the tip and nice to see that another gardener has joined this forum.

A friend of mine lives in Orce, Granada, and has some good gardening tips and advice on www.livinginacave.com including a useful translation table for Spanish gardening terms.

Trogg,

Thanks for the tip on that site. I am particularly grateful for the plant translations.

Nancy

Your garden in Spain ISBN 84-89954-42-9 INCLUDES DESCRIPTIONS of some 400 plants including most fotos and english, spanish and botanical names....... there is also a vocab but the vocab has been expanded in Growing heALTHY FRUIT IN SPAIN mentioned in earlier reply.

Greenfingers,

I am aware of the books by the Hanscombes as well as their excellent website. Their book "Your Garden in Spain" sounds like an absolute 'must' for anybody gardening in Spain. At the moment, it's not available through AmazonFrance , so I may have to wait until I get to Spain.

You can buy though the website at euro prices and reasonable postage.

Well, I checked out the site for ordering that book and although the postage is only 1.50 euros for delivery in Spain, it's 10 euros!!! elsewhere in Europe. If I can get it through amazon, the shipping is free.

I'll be coming down to Spain this June. Do you happen to know whether it can be bought in any bookstores?

90% go through bookshops..bookworld Espa?a are the best represented english language book chain with shops on the Costa de sol. Costa BLANCA AND mADRID ETC BUT ANY GOOD BOOKSHOP/NESAGENT WILL EITHER HAVE IT OR ORDER IT FOR YOU.
One thing you will find in Spain is that retail price maintenance on boks still widely applies

Thanks for posting the www.gardeninginspain.com website Greenfingers. My parents are moving over here shortly and they're both keen gardeners. I've emailed them with the website and they find it very informative. They were also keen to know what types of plants work well with the climate and soil conditions. My mum is a first rate gardener, one of those people who knows all the latin names of any type of plant you can think of!! Unfortunately that's not passed on to me yet as I've always been too busy to look after a garden myself.

I'm delighted to enjoy the "natural" garden that the countryside provides in this area. The wildflower varieties that can be seen are visually stunning and provide such vivid colour to the landscape. My wife's personal favorite has always been orchids. Usually around this time of years you can find plenty of different varieties of orchids in the pine woodland around Bermejales lake, on the way to Alhama de Granada. If you've not been to Bermejales, it's absolutely beautiful and highly recommended.

I am a horticulturist and am planning a big move next year, probably somewhere in Andalucia, and am interested in making a few friends within the gardening comunity

There are well experienced horticulturalists in the Andulucian Branch of the Mediterranean Gardening Society who meet in Alhaurin el Grande and another active club...THE CAPELANIA CLUB ...that meets in Benalmadena. We enjoyed talking to both last year.

Re another recent posting ...yes walking in the Spanish hills one finds some marvelous flowering banks, rocky slopes and high meadows. A few years back we walked for 52 days coast to coast across the pyreness from the Bay of Biscay to the Med between mid june and early august . We will never forget the flowers, butterflies and wild horses.

I got my masters last year so I am looking forward to talking to like minded people, thanks.

> My husband and I have been living in France for 10 years and are now considering moving to Spain for warmer weather, specifically near Valencia. I have noticed that there is no dedicated site here for gardening. Are there no gardeners out there? I really would like to know what sort of fruit can be grown in Spain besides citrus and olives. Is it possible to grow cherries or raspberries? Are there any plant catalogues available in Spain?


I too am looking forward to the chance of growing things that i couldn't do with much success in the U.K. The house we are buying has a very well established garden, with olives, cherries, a lot of pine trees and some sort of nut tree that the owner couldn't name! I plan to have raised beds, to grow veg, soft fruits and herbs closer to the house.
We are lucky enough to have about 2 acres, so I will be using the rear of the house as my 'allotment' area.
I too am having a job getting info on growing in Spain, I've been lucky enough to find a guy on another site who is also taking his Master in horticulture and has been a mine of information!
Lets hope this thread is the start of lots of helpful info! :cheese:

At the end of May the third book in the same format gardening book in the most useful trilogy opf garsening books will be lauched on the Santana stand at the Alicante HOMES AND GARDENS SHOW ON THE 26/27 May....see www.gemspain.com for full details of the show. The three books are titled
a. Your garden in Spain - From planning to planting and maintenance,
b.Growing healthy fruit in Spain - From strawberries to oranges and melons, and
c. Growing heathy vegetables in Spain - From sprouting seeds to giant pumpkins.
All are published by Santana Books .

Hi ,

Iam a florist , need some tips on gardening.... for best results...

Serena

Dear Serena,
nOT SURE FROM YOUR MESSAGE WHETHER YOU ARE A FLORIST WITH A FLOWER SHOP OR INTERSTED IN FLOWERS.
BUT YOU SAY YOU NEED SOME HELP SO SUGGEST YOU OBTAIN THE BOOK 'YOUR GARDEN IN SPAIN.FROM PLANNING TO PLANTOMNG AND MAINTENANCE ' THAT WAS PUBLISHED BY SANTANA TWO WEEKS AGO . DETAILS AND LINK FOR BUYING WILL BE FOUND ON . Includes descriptions of 400 plants and a CHAPTER ON PAINTING WITH PLANTSETC

Have you noted that there is now a new version 0f 'YOUR GARDEN IN SPAin - from planning to planting and maintenance' at 19.90 euros in the same format as GROWING HEALTHY FRUIT IN SPAIN and GROWING HEALTHY VEGETABLES IN SPAIN WHICH ARE BOTH PRICED AT 14.90.
All are kisted in trhe summer BOOKWORLD ESPANA CATALOQUE AND WEBSITE AS WELL AW BEING DESCRIBED ON www.gardeninginspain.com

Hi

I have a terraced garden and am looking to move into the country (when we can find a house........sigh), anyway I grow herbs and tomatoes and I have a Apple, Cherry, Fig and Lemon tree that are in pots, I am desperate to get them into the ground so that they can really thrive.

I also wanted to point you to a website that I just came across that has a new range of gardening tools and accessories, might be useful to some of you here.

Have a great sunny day :)

Fruity
http://www.premier-tools.com - mainly car tools and the like but they have a new section for us gardeners out there :)

Hi there, we live 3,000 ft above sea level, and are growing, cherries (which were divine and far too many), nectarines, apples, walnuts, almonds, olives (obviously!!) membrillo (i.e. quince), pears, loads of grapes. Wish you all the luck, and just remember to water......which we do.....NOT!! Luckily everything seems to be living.....so far!!

all the best with the move.

Alicia X

If you have gluts of any fruit try drying them. We have a circular tray drier and now produce all we need for snacks on walks and predinner taspas etc ...plus putting into home made bread and cakes. The electric ttay drier takes all the hassle out of insect attacks, moulds from humid nights etc.Most things dry iovernight or in half a day including herbs and tomatoes as well as fruit.

Hi Greenfingers, obviously you are, but we are certainly, but we are learning. Thanks for the tips. Hoping next year will be better organised and hoping for a good old crop of everything!! Fingers crossed.

Alicia

If you live in Andulucia we will be pleased to swap notes at THE OVER 50'S SHOW in Estepona in November.

Hi there again, we absolutely do live in Andalucia, outskirts of Granada. Where is Estepona?

Hi all.. I know I have joined in late on this thread.. but hope by posting it will be revived!
We are based near Mijas Costa - and have a beautiful campo plot - all growing organic (well - as home grown as you can without getting the cert!)... veg/salad.

Would be good to chat with others on south coast who are growing veggies.. we are currently in our first year and only just finding out that very little wants to grow in this blistering heat! We DO have a mountain of tomatoes (3 types).. but courgette, lettuce and cucumber wilting/refusing to come out - despite 3 soakings a day!

Anyone who wants to chat re edible stuff please PM me asap!

Happy growing!

SJ

ps - I just found a website of a dedicated local gardening forum.. but have temporarily fogotten the name.. will google and see if I can find it!

Re recent posting from Migas re growing vegetables in the south. As anywhere in Spain improving the soil is even more important than watering as a GOOD VEGETABLE GARDEN SOIL NEEDS TO BE MOISTURE RETENTIVE ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER.
As mentioned in our book GROWING HEALTHY VEGETABLES IN SPAIN it is worth investing in a box of TERRACOTEM ....DISTRIBUTOR IS IN MIGAS COSTA ....TEL ...95 2582599 ask for Christina who speaks some English....mix into planting holes and seed drills to help prevent drying out. Also lettuces cann go to seed quickly when it gets hot ....they do not need all the sun essential for tomatoes and peppers so try growing in a semi shaded postion or under shading.
By the way our publishers Santana are also in Migas if you don't have our book. tel..952 485838
Hope that helps new member from Migas and others.
Clodagh and Dick Handscombe Alias Greenfingers ...originally in Costa Sol News for seven years.

> My husband and I have been living in France for 10 years and are now considering moving to Spain for warmer weather, specifically near Valencia. I have noticed that there is no dedicated site here for gardening. Are there no gardeners out there? I really would like to know what sort of fruit can be grown in Spain besides citrus and olives. Is it possible to grow cherries or raspberries? Are there any plant catalogues available in Spain?


I have a lovely crop of tomatoes growing on my balcony right - they do really well here!

Thanks Clodagh & Dick for very useful suggestions. Will get that Terracotem and let everyone know how it goes! Yes.. we have found the lettuce (and other things) going to seed no sooner than they have started to poke their heads up!
We have found a shaded - and another - semi-shaded part of the plot and will try nuturing the lettuce there.
Will post again when we have moved onto the next stage/read the book!

C&D;- apart from the Terracotem - would you ever recommend a lining of say plastic/other non-permeable layer in the bottom of our seeding bed to keep the moisture in? We are aiming to translpant the seedlings once we feel they are established enough to cope with the regular plots/ground...

All the best,
Susan

great keep them going until october or even november...give a sulphur dust weekly if you start to get any leaf or fruit problems.

Dear Susan, Great progress. Yes a non permeable layer would be a good idea so that your seed bed in the ground is similar to srting from seed in a large window box or seed tray.

Thanks Greenfingers team... will tell 'the boss' of all of above - and report back when we have had some success!
(I see that the red lettuce are doing OK - which is surprizing - as they are very delicate and I thought would not have liked the dry ground and direct sun... but plants are here to keep us on our toes!). :)

Interestingly our crinkly leaved red lettuces survive much longer during the summer than green leaved varieties....and since they look great and taste good we plant at least as many red as green.

When lettuces go to seed they are still good food for the chickens,budgies and tortoise!!!! Likewise left overs after eating, drying, jamimg and bottling tomatoes ...25 varieties at present...their great for the tortoise ..she eats gastronomically and we know the leaves don't have residualchemicals on them!!

By the way consider starting to dry...see www.conasi.biz and obtain info in english from order@conasi.biz.

Thanks again for chat Greenfingers..
I am just about getting the hang of 'Sun Dried' Toms... (althogh still need to refine a little bit - as some get overcooked!)..
I checked out your drier machine via your website when I looked it up a while back. Looks a great bit of kit. Have it on the
Christmas wish list!
Our glut of mangoes from last winter have only just disappeared from the freezer - and we still have the odd jar of 'Mijas Mermelada' on the shelf! (We mixed the manoges with the bitter oranges the owner did not want off the trees).
We just love living in the campo and enjoying being semi-self sufficient!
(We drew the line at chickens - as neither of us wants to kill them when they get too old to lay)..
The landlady's family have just installed a black pig... who will be there no longer in a few weeks. ..
!Viva la vida del Campo!
sj

ps - any tips on preserving fresh garlic (other than drying) - we have taken them out early - as we need the space for something else/they were too slow growing.. So I have quite a few heads lying around - but only tiny - and I would prefer to do a purge in one sitting to peel all. Some people say put them in vinegar - not olive oil (as latter encourages botulism?).

Yes you can pickle in vinegar or in a brine flavoured with thyme---you will find jars of these in supermarkets. Most of the taste has gone so a good tapas item.

Still here, still gardening ;)
Good harvests from Dec - now (slowing down as we get hotter/things going to seed)
Slow start end of last year due to extended summer/warm into Nov!

Has anyone ever bought from Tozerseedsdirect in the UK?
We are looking for varieties that will be Ok in the heat/something different for the winter when we start up again.
(Have give up pouring money down the drain on watering as we have no grey water - only drinking type!)
We now put up a pool on the garden when the heat hits! :)

Likewise, has anyone been able to get different vareties of Vilmorin (France). Our local garden shops only sell a very limited
range, yet on their website they do a huge amount!

Happy gardening :)

Good to see a group of gardeners here :)

I run a gardening forum and love my gardening just wish it was all as I would like it! It takes time but I am getting there, my tomatoes are just starting to grow :)

:-) :-) :-)

We have given up on growing in the summer. An expert came by and concluded that our lack of success is down to not enough water. We do not have grey water for the garden, and unless we saved all the rain we could in the winter, we have to use the mains.

We are happy to buy our weekly salad from the supermarket until there is rain again!