What is successful? What can you NOT grow in such hot climes???
Hope someone has some ideas or knowledge - even anecdotal!!! Desperate for info.
Ta!
Gardening in Spain!
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
My husband is dead keen to move to Spain. I have tried to find out information about growing veggies in Southern Spain, but haven't come up with anything. Anyone out there know anything about growing fruit and veggies in hot mediterranean country - Southern Spain?
What is successful? What can you NOT grow in such hot climes???
Hope someone has some ideas or knowledge - even anecdotal!!! Desperate for info.
Ta!
What is successful? What can you NOT grow in such hot climes???
Hope someone has some ideas or knowledge - even anecdotal!!! Desperate for info.
Ta!
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valmarg
Hi mazmezroz,
You only have to look at the supermarket shelves at this time of year to see that a lot of the fresh fruit and veg come from spain, ie tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, peppers, etc.
I would have to say that if the spaniards have ever grown a decent tasting tomato, they have yet to send one to the UK, particularly at this time of year. I prefer to wait until I can pick my own.
Personally I find that the seasonal fruit/veg is much better from Italy. I went against the grain of buying tomatoes at this time of year, and bought some Italian tomatoes from Sainsburys just before Christmas, and they were far superior to the tasteless spanish/canary rubbish.
The Italians produce the best melons, nectarines, peaches, etc.
Whilst the spanish climate would appear to be conducive to growing good crops, it I had a choice I would far rather move to Italy.
Love,
valmarg
You only have to look at the supermarket shelves at this time of year to see that a lot of the fresh fruit and veg come from spain, ie tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, peppers, etc.
I would have to say that if the spaniards have ever grown a decent tasting tomato, they have yet to send one to the UK, particularly at this time of year. I prefer to wait until I can pick my own.
Personally I find that the seasonal fruit/veg is much better from Italy. I went against the grain of buying tomatoes at this time of year, and bought some Italian tomatoes from Sainsburys just before Christmas, and they were far superior to the tasteless spanish/canary rubbish.
The Italians produce the best melons, nectarines, peaches, etc.
Whilst the spanish climate would appear to be conducive to growing good crops, it I had a choice I would far rather move to Italy.
Love,
valmarg
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Jenny Green
- KG Regular
- Posts: 1139
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 4:47 pm
- Location: East Midlands
My parents live in Little Britain (Malaga area) and my mum's a fairly keen gardener. I was out there a few days ago and she was commenting on how people tend to eat things that grow in the shade there - not sure exactly what produce she meant, but it's certainly true that the majority of the things we grow here would curl up and die in the summers they have there.
Of course, it's frost free and closer to the equator so you would probably be best growing things from say Jan - June rather than May to Sept as we do here. Citrus and olives do very well, of course, but I don't think the soil is particularly rich. The area where my parents live used to make its money from honey (lots of wildflowers) and fish, which just about says it all.
One word of warning, though, water is metered and in short supply.
Of course, it's frost free and closer to the equator so you would probably be best growing things from say Jan - June rather than May to Sept as we do here. Citrus and olives do very well, of course, but I don't think the soil is particularly rich. The area where my parents live used to make its money from honey (lots of wildflowers) and fish, which just about says it all.
One word of warning, though, water is metered and in short supply.
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Guest
Hi
I know that Potatoes are grown from October through the winter months. and yes a lot of veg is also grown under shade netting. I too will shortly be moving to Spain so good luck!
I know that Potatoes are grown from October through the winter months. and yes a lot of veg is also grown under shade netting. I too will shortly be moving to Spain so good luck!
Hi
I don't think the crops that the Spanish grow for themselves ever make it to our supermarkets. Tomatoes in Spain are usually mottled green and red and very tasty - they wouldn't quiet get past our supermarket buyers - we get the red tasteless ones grown in huge polytunnels that the Spaniards wouldn't touch! We go to stay in Spain once a year - deep South near Marbella - and one of the locals has a hugely productive vegetable patch which I eye up every time I go past. He produces huge amounts of tomatoes - the vines literally dripping with them and lays them out to dry in the sun (sigh). I've also seen him growing onions, peppers, potatoes (these were planted in the autumn). They do seem to get planted so that they are in the shade for some of the day - even toms can't cope with the relentless summer sun out there. On the fruit side, he has figs and an orange tree on his plot! No rhubarb or blueberries though so I think our cooler climate is better although I hope to be able to try out Spanish gardenin one day myself!
Best of luck if you do move - maybe one day I'll be able to!
I don't think the crops that the Spanish grow for themselves ever make it to our supermarkets. Tomatoes in Spain are usually mottled green and red and very tasty - they wouldn't quiet get past our supermarket buyers - we get the red tasteless ones grown in huge polytunnels that the Spaniards wouldn't touch! We go to stay in Spain once a year - deep South near Marbella - and one of the locals has a hugely productive vegetable patch which I eye up every time I go past. He produces huge amounts of tomatoes - the vines literally dripping with them and lays them out to dry in the sun (sigh). I've also seen him growing onions, peppers, potatoes (these were planted in the autumn). They do seem to get planted so that they are in the shade for some of the day - even toms can't cope with the relentless summer sun out there. On the fruit side, he has figs and an orange tree on his plot! No rhubarb or blueberries though so I think our cooler climate is better although I hope to be able to try out Spanish gardenin one day myself!
Best of luck if you do move - maybe one day I'll be able to!