Growing Mediteranean Plants in UK

Hi there,

Just wondering what do other people think about the possibility of growing more exotic varieties outside. I am dying to try to grow a bougainvillea outdoors as they look amazing on the continent. I live in a VERY warm/hot North Cambridgeshire where we can go months in the summer without much ( if any) rain. The warmer weather can last from March to October and we get regular bouts fo 27C plus every summer. I think our back garden is a very good suntrap. I was thinking of growing them in a large container on my deck to surround a pergola we are building!
what do others think?

 

My son was at university in Cambridge and he noticed how damp and miserable the weather was most of the winter.

It's not the summer you have to worry about with these plants, it's the winter. Some are more tollerant than others, but a cold clay soggy soil will cause root rot in many exotic plants. Couple that with a frosted top and the plant could be in a spot of trouble.

 

Sharp drainage is essential for Mediterranean plants. Beth Chatto out at Colchester is the guru of dry gardening. She has been telling us that we are going to have to adapt to hot dry summers for ages now. See http://www.bethchatto.co.uk/

 

Hi Novocastria, and welcome to GC!

I am also planning to grow some med. stuff when I finally get my garden layout sorted out. However, as Rich says, we need to be realistic about what we can and can't grow. They're saying in 40 years we should have a similar climate anyway - so if you have the patience...!

Jungleseeds.co.uk have plenty in stock, but say the following about all of them:

"hardy down to about -1C for short periods when fully established and might grow on a warm wall in Central London, but flowering continuously all year given a constant temperature above 15C."

So even if it survives it probably won't look that impressive for most of the year :(

 

So Rich,

Do you think, instead, they may grow in large pots aand be protected in the winter? We DO get very wet and windy winters here in the Fens. We seem to get two seasons here...wet and wild ( cos we are so flat) and hot and dry in the summer!!

 

thanks hornbeam, will take a look at the dry gardening site!! :-D

 

Hi novocastria, I don't grow bougainvillea, but I do grow all sorts of tender tropicals. I get round the winter wet by planting in raised beds or pots where I can control the soils texture. All my beds are pretty much raised in a Sand/Gravel/Compost/JI/Bark/Chicken Poo Mix plus the lighter clay soil I had to start with. This has certianly allowed me to grow more succefully than I would have been able to on the thick clay that was there before. Last winter was very cold but I lost less than in milder wetter years.

 

Dave ( in his garden )

I have looked at that jungle seeds site too.. it's so tempting..:-S....40yrs??? God, am WAY too impatient for that!!lol
I know people here have grown passion fruits and kumquats by the front doors....and they seem to survive well. Do you think it is luck, a fluke or the possibility that we can grow wonderful plants in this area!
Diana

 

Hi NC (do you know, I've never thought about the irony of that user name - unless I had a wireless internet connection!)

I think it's a distinct possibility - as BM says, he controls the environment around the plants! It depends how pro-active you feel!

However, there are plenty of med looking plants (grasses, hardy palms etc) that can survive colder weather and will still "take you away"!

My favourite holiday destination is Greece and anything I can use that makes my garden feel more like there is welcome!

 

Hi Banana Man

Oooh the raised beds sound interesting, I too have heavy clay soil, right now it looks like Death Valley in places even though we had torrential storms last night! Winter leaves it like a quagmire and summer leaves it dry as the proverbial bone. If it is left for a holiday as in this Easter we came back to see 3 foot high thistles and weeds, the continuous rain meant we never got out there to do anything about it and they got taller and taller. This is our problem,we live semi rural and right by a wild area ( nature reserve) so we get all sort of seeds etc dropped by...some are quite nice! THEN, when the good weather does come you have a very short window to do digging etc before the soil is unbelievably hard!! So what do you do? Small bits and often???
How big are your raised beds and what have you managed to grow in them?? I plan on growing some herbal plants and a mixture of shrubs and fruit trees; the herbal bed will be quite big ( and triangular)with the height begun at the back with a couple of Mulleins brought down the the front with lavender and marigolds, I hope!
The Mediteranean plants I would like to try would more than likely be in pots on my deck/patio which is a sun trap in the summer, we hope to have a large pergola there to grow the plants up and over.
what do you think? any advice??lol

 

I grew up in south cambs where the rainfall is so low it is officially desert! It gets pretty hot in summer. I would imagen that unless you're on a very sheltered site in a town you would need lots of winter protection for tender things though.

My olive tree was fine all winter in a tiny pot with no protection - I had no idea they were considered tender!

 

Dave ( still in his garden) lol

I guess controlling the environment is more than likely the best idea. I love grasses etc but moreso the bright colours of the bougainvilleas, the wonderful geraniums and the citrus trees. I love how in southern Spain they have pots and pots of geraniums in little holders covering their white walls..not sure my hubbie would be happy if I whitewashed our walls though?? :-S

Diana

 

Hi Sparkle

I know what you mean! I live in the Fens and my first impression of the area up here was ...the sky is always blue and the fields are full of veggies, flowers and orchards full of fruit trees. I have seen fields full of roses here, was amazed!!And at the height of summer everything is dry and golden!!!

Where did you live?

I would have thought that if Olives grow in Italy who also have bad winters then there is no reason why they can't here!! Would be lovely to have a few olive trees!
Have you read Carol Drinkwaters book...Olive Farm?? Wonderful series!!

Diana

 

We're debating whether to whitewash at the moment around our patio - would look good but where to stop? or should we do the whole of the back of the house!

Geraniums are a great option though - would give you some lovely summer med colour. And lavender of course - dry loving and hardy!

 

Dave

Really???? Oh, you have to let me know what you decide!! Will youpost pics? well this is the rouble, do you do the whole of the back of the house or just a bit of it.....and what do you do when it comes to selling!! :-S

Geraniums are one of my favourite plants, so many colours, leaf patterns, smells etc!!Oh, and lavenders!!!! Have you been to the lavender farms??? The one in Norfolk is SO beautiful!!! and seeing fields of purple lavender is just awe inspiring!