Gardening in a Mediterranean Climate

THE CHALLENGES OF GARDENING IN CATALUNYA

By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe

Having gardened in Spain both on the coastal plain and in inland valleys for over twenty years and written six books to share our experiences with later arriving expatriates we are pleased to contribute articles to this new magazine. We start by discussing some of the basic challenges and in later editions will cover a variety of important seasonal issuers important to the flower, vegetable and fruit gardens.

THE BASIC CHALLENGES

The basic challenges are that the climate, soils and some of the plants of Spain are different to those experienced in northern Europe and even within Catalunya there are amazing differences. When we walked for fifty days across the Pyrenees from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea to celebrate Dick’s retirement we experienced the hottest, coldest, wettest and most new snow during the last week in eastern Catalunya although it was the end of July/early August. In May we have basked in the spring sunshine walking around the amazing subtropical botanical garden in south facing Blanes and an hour later been in a freezing cold blackened bare garden in an inland wine making village with the northerly Pyrenean foothills covered in late snow. A village which experiences temperatures down to minus twenty in the winter but up to plus forty in mid summer when inland Catalunya can be hotter and drier than the coast. In the mildest most benign coastal spots it’s possible to grow a good range of vegetables all the year round while in the northern valleys it will be very restricted except between June and October. Subtropical evergreen fruit trees might be able to survive in the warmest coastal gardens but inland it will strictly deciduous temperate fruit trees that need the winter cold for good summer crops.

MAKING THE BEST OF THE CLIMATE

But there a good number of sunny days throughout the year and the rainfall in many areas is more reliable than further south and in the centre of Spain so excellent gardens are very possible. Ones that allow one to live an open air lifestyle in gardens designed to live in rather than looking at through the window. We suggest that you focus on establishing following ten things as first priorities.

1. Cosy colourful corners where you can sit out to enjoy the winter sun reasonably sheltered from cool, even cold, winter winds.

2. High thick hedges as windbreaks and to provide privacy and security.

3. Spreading trees to give deep shade so that you can escape the hottest hours of mid summer days for a pleasant read, lunch and siesta.

4. Garden seats with a view for pleasant sundowners, tapas and alfresco dinner alone or with family and friends.

5. A combination of interesting plants, meandering paths and varying features such as fountains and ponds to lure one into the garden and to stimulate a wander round, as well as creating a motivating environment in which to garden.

6. A solar heated pool or jacussi in which to cool off and relax. Naturally the larger the pool the more chance there is for meaningful exercise, throughout the year if heated.

7. A variety of possibilities for cooking tasty meals ranging from barbecues to traditional or mexican ovens, tagines or paella pans.

8. If you are interested in gastronomic healthy eating:

a. A collection of your favourite fruit trees, bushes and plants in appropriate locations within the garden. Either spread out within a cottage style layout or grouped within an orchard.

b. An area for growing seasonal vegetables and culinary herbs in beds, raised beds or containers.

c. If you are determined to eat organic protein as well as fruit and vegetables the fitting in of a hen run in the shade of a tree.

9. Comfortable and compatible garden furniture for sitting, lazing and sunbathing at strategic places around the garden, not merely around the pool which may only be used for six months a year.

10. An area designed to enable children and grandchildren to safely enjoy the fresh air whatever the weather possibly incorporating a sandpit, swing, slide, playhouse and why not a starter mini garden to encourage the next generation to take an interest in gardening and healthy eating.

 

ALSO MAKE IT SENSUOUS

While designing and establishing the above features also aim to make the garden sensuous by actively stimulating the senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing and being at ease. We look at each of the senses in turn.

SIGHT – This includes making the best of nearby internal features within the garden and more distant ones beyond the hedge. Views that prompt one to take a second breath and stop and take in the vision in front of you and perhaps sitting on a strategically located bench seat to enjoy them to the full.. The magic is often achieved by the creative mixing of plants in terms of the colours of their bark, leaves, flowers and fruit. In both the first and second edition of our book, Your garden in Spain there is an important section titled Painting with plants.

SMELL – Natural, aromatherapeutic effects starting with perfumed jasmine at the gate and strategically placed perfumed shrubs such as lady of the night and roses, aromatic herbs such as rosemary and lavender, and perfumed perennials such as San Diego and lemon scented geranium in mixed beds or dedicated clumps.

TASTE – The careful locating of edible herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables along main routes through the garden can stimulate one to take a snack, indeed graze, as one strolls around the garden.

TOUCH – Using a combination of plants with different leaf and bark textures that give varying messages when touched.

HEARING – The natural music of fountains and waterfalls, the bussing of bees and croaking of frogs, and the chirping of a variety of birds can add magic to gardens in urbanisations as well as in the country. A turtle dove moved into our garden last February and has become tamer by the month. It sat cooing only a foot from the secateurs while we pruned the almonds and apricot trees during the recent winter pruning session. An aviary or hen house can achieve a similar effect.

FEELING AT EASE – Making one feel at ease with the world – pleased that one has settled in Spain – by paying particular attention to the comfort of bench seats, chairs, hammocks and sun beds where one can rest and enjoy ones dreams and a timely sun downer within a secure environment created by high hedges and gates.

There is obviously much that can be done so look at your garden this spring with both a critical and creative eye and plan to improve it for the common spring and summer so that the early dream of a Spanish garden of Eden becomes a reality at last.

You can buy Dick & Clodagh Handscombe's book 'Your Garden in Spain' and other books on gardening in Spain and the Mediterranean by visiting our Mediterranean Gardening Books page.