Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Yeah so doing a masters means you're thick!!!!!!
I don't think so.:thumbsup:
Graham

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

You'll wish you hadn't told me that!
I have done quite a lot of gardening here, in fact got through to the final of a gardening programme (turf wars) over here a couple of years ago, but I tend to stick to what I know and like, not very adventurous! I plan to use quite a lot of drought tolerant grasses as I think they can look lovely if planted well, and am really looking forward to being able to grow more exotic plants! I notice there are lots of pots on sale in the area where we're growing but I would have thought it was a bit of a pain to keep them all watered, esp as terracotta dries out so quickly:) !
As I'm not going to be working I'll have much more time to garden, which is what drew me to the house as its got a nice bit of land, which has been fairly well maintained, although the olives need sorting!:)

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Get the olives done professionally, it will be a hassle and probably cost a bit, but if they are done properly they will not only last for a life time but will also produce an amazing crop.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

they give them to anyone now days.....


I'm also doing a diploma with it.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Now you're showing off!! lolol:rofl:

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

I don't get a chance that often, someone always comes along and shoots me back down........and its usually Mitzy!

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

THIS IS GETTING SILLY! CONVERSING ON TWO THREADS!!
I won't shoot you down, need all help i can get!!!;)

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

I know but I get told off all the time for going off topic so this works fine.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Here a pic of one of the gardens I did, Ying and Yang motifs from above!Too bust for my loking now, but it got through to the final.:D

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Bust for my loking?????? tired time for bed!!!:zzz: :zzz: :zzz:

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Nice thread !! I nearly ditched my gardening books when I took up sailing some 15 years ago, but they come in handy as I have rediscovered the joys of gardening with a new garden to create.
Nasturtiums..would like to plant them as ground cover behind the house, but is black fly a problem in Spain as it is in England ?? Do they need watering?? I have planted a small mesembryanthemum (spelling?) for the same reason.
My local vivero is filled with Calistemon (Bottle Brush) . I have planted one as I found a spot that needed it's shape and flower colour. Just one !!
Interesting about importing plants...I brought over a Cytisus Battandieri, a pineapple broom. They are native to Morocco, andI have a huge specimen growing in a front garden in South London. I no longer live there but often drive past to see it in flower. I was surprised that I never saw it in Spanish viveros. Ditto Cistus, rock rose.
I wonder what Matt would think about bringing over a golden Robinia?? I know the branches are brittle and might not do well in a Levante, but they are Med trees.. I have two pepper trees, and a lime planted last year that is already coverd with tiny limes. It seems to be a dwarf specimen, about 5ft tall, but a mature plant. Cost about 35 EU.
Finally...has anyone planted poppies ? The icelandic variety ?? I fancy drifts of them under the fig trees and in some of the beds, but wonder if they will perish in the heat ??

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Mesembryanthemum are a South African plant, also known as Fig Marrigold, and are a form of succulent so will do absolutely fine as I am sure you know, they have the opposite problem, they really need to be baked and dry.

I take it the Robinia you are talking about is R. pseudoacacia ? as the Locust tree has been in Spain for some time now, I used to pick the flowers from some on some waste ground when I used to visit mum.

I'm not totally against introductions so dont assume that I'm being a N... a grump about it, I just know that a lot of problems are caused by irresponsible introductions.

I have good friends who live in Chile and know that if you introduce anything into the country its a lock up-able offense.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Oh glad about Mesathingywotsits, whats the other name for them, other than fig marigold? I love those and have grown them quite a few times in window boxes.:D

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Mind you, when you think about it, there are hundreds of plants that have been introduced into England from other countries, I wonder how many plants we have in England are actually native? I suppose its just a case of keeping everything in check and not letting them run riot?:confused:

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Is that what I call the Hottentot Fig?

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

a Hottentot is actually a Carpobrotus edulis, very similar, and was once classed as a Mesembryanthemum as they are both Aizoaceae but they are different plants.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

I´ve been ignoring this thread until now because I though it sounded boring (gardening not really my thing). Now I am totally awestruck at Mr R Matt´s knowledge on the subject - don´t know how I managed to remain blissfully unaware of his field of expertise - I just assumed it was p**s taking and s**t stirring.

(only kidding).

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

it is!

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Livingstone daisies.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

there Dorotheanthus bellidiformis aren't they?

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

GOK, but they were always sold as Mesembryantheums in the UK..:lol:

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

there is a bit of a mix up with the names to be honest.

The Hottentot is a Carpobrotus
The Livingstone is a Dorotheanthus
while the Fig Marigold is actually the Mesembryanthemum

They are however all Aizoaceae from memory and look fairly similar.


am I getting paid for this by the way?

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Thats it clever clogs!!!
Bought some gorgeous plants today to tart up my baskets for prettying up the house, and the man said they will be fab in Spain, so i'll be bringing those out too, they are called Madeira daisies,: Argyranthemum, they are really pretty.:)

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

You'll get your rewards in heaven Matt, or in my garden if you ever get there lolol oooerrr;)

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Ok, next lot of questions!!
Went to a lovely garden near me today and saw Solomons seal growing under the trees, would that grow under trees in Spain? or would it just be too hot?
Also, would most herbs grow ok?
What would you grow to have a really pretty garden?:)

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Herbs most certainly, as many of them are natives of hot dry countries, I'm thinking of Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, and there are always plenty of different mint plants available at garden centres, Its also an ideal area for growing Basil.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Why not try Agapanthus africanus?

It will grow easily in the shade of trees and will look absolutely stunning, Solomans Seal would grow OK, you just have to be careful not to let it dry out.

Many ferns will grow well in this half shaded area, and some are absolutely stunning.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

We are building a raised bed outside the kitchen door, I hope to grow as many herbs there as I can, already have basil growing in pots around where we have our outside eating area as this keeps the mozzies away.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Crispygirl, I bought a pot of Basil while I was over but it did not seem to like the direct sun to much..should it be shaded..:cool: :eek:

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

I have mine in pots in direct sunlight for most of the day, from about 1pm onwards I do have to water it everyday in the summer months if I don't it does look rather sorry for it self. It died off completely in the winter but I have notice that it is coming back to life again so I have fed it and watered it and spoke nicely to it so I am sure it will thrive again:) . The sweet basil I planted into the flower bed and was in the shade for most of the time did not like it at all and in the end it just gave up and there is no sign of it now.:(

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Don't ferns need moist shady conditions?

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

not all of them, some can survive quite well in free draining soil, some need free draining soil, but yeah, they do need shade, they will die in full sun, but you did say it would be in the shade of a tree yeah?

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Yes there are a lot of pine trees nice and shady, might plant a couple of those 'special' ferns that you've all been talking about;) too, musn't tell the old boy though he's a bit more straight laced than me1 LOLOL

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

you could do.

Things like Nephrolepis ferns will survive, but you will have to mulch well, the pines will suck up a massive amount of water, and going back to your original point I have had an E-mail back from my tutor and he says that wisteria will grow in Spain, and happily.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Oh bless you , thanks for asking your tutor!
I've got a wisteria here, but its only about 5 years old, no blooms yet, knowing my luck it'll bloom next year when i'm gone!
Hopefully they sell them out there, does anyone recall seeing them at garden centres?:)

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

cant help you but somewhere i have the addy of a guy who set up a plant import thing in Spain, he has a couple of suppliers in the UK and Holland, and can get anything.

If I can dig it out I will.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

[QUOTE=rugbymatt;4749717]cant help you but somewhere i have the addy of a guy who set up a plant import thing in Spain, he has a couple of suppliers in the UK and Holland, and can get anything.

If I can dig it out I will.[/QUOTE]

:rofl:

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

Thanks very much for all your help, although I fear for you as I'm not even out there yet and I've asked you a million things already!!:D

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

I was going to mention the same thing- especially for Wisteria...which while beautiful during two weeks in the early spring- has invaded forests here in the Southern US with it's vines pulling down trees and what not...though it's no where near as bad as Kudzu- which has truely become a plague here.

Re: Plants in Spain??
 

What on earth is Kudzo? You lucky thing living in the States that would be my country of choice, but no jobs for Pilots there!