The MGS Forum

Gardening in mediterranean climates => General Cultivation => Topic started by: KeenNoviceGardener on November 03, 2013, 09:07:07 PM

Title: When to plant?
Post by: KeenNoviceGardener on November 03, 2013, 09:07:07 PM
I'm slowly getting an idea of what I would like and where in my new garden, but in the UK I worked over the beds in my garden with manure, compost etc in October then planted in March. Is that what I'd do here in Mallorca? Can I plant any pots? Thanks for any help.
Title: Re: When to plant?
Post by: David Bracey on November 04, 2013, 08:27:04 AM
This a very good question...you can find lots of good advice on this Forum as starters.      I assume you have joined your local MGS branch.  Local member,s knowledge will be invaluable. 

Autumn is the major time for planting when there is still warmth in the soil and some rain can be expected.

Have you read O Filippi,s book?  This is full of sound, practical advice. Gardening in the Med is a  new experience with little relationship to gardening in the UK.
Title: Re: When to plant?
Post by: Fleur Pavlidis on November 04, 2013, 10:53:53 AM
You can avoid lots of plant losses by following David’s advice. Take to heart the few advantages of mediterranean gardening – no digging over of beds, no lugging of manure.
Right now this month look at all the plants already growing on your plot and give them a good pruning. If they’re wild plants and a bit big and unruly, one option is to raise them off the ground by pruning all side branches from the lower trunks/stems. Now you have a little shade for your newbies.
Next haunt the nurseries for young plants – they’ll settle in quicker because their roots won’t be twirling so much in the pot.
Wait for some autumn rain. Dig some big holes with a pickaxe and fill to the top with water once or twice. Mix a little of whatever good soil you can find (homemade compost, spent potting compost, old manure etc.) with the soil from the hole – there won’t be enough otherwise because half the hole will probably have been stones. Make a mound of soil in the bottom of the hole and arrange the roots you’ve teased from the root ball over it. Backfill leaving a decent watering hollow and keep an eye on the plant for the rest of the winter. Water regularly during the drought season for at least two summers. Despite what Olivier Filippi recommends I find that here in Attica I can rarely give up watering all together despite regular mulching.
Good luck is also a necessity.
Title: Re: When to plant?
Post by: Umbrian on November 05, 2013, 08:17:10 AM
I agree that local knowledge is the best overall guide whether it be from fellow members, observation of weather patterns etc. If you are in residence all through the year spring planting can be better for some more vulnerable subjects. An unusually harsh winter can produce casualties and since you are going to have to water regularly for the first summer at least you will not be adding to your work load. It was fortunate for me in many ways that our first winter here in Italy was particularly cold and ,only having been here from July, I had not been able to prepare a lot of ground for planting. We have not experienced such a winter in the following 14 years but it has made me favour spring planting for many things as well as influencing my choices of planting material - nothing worse than seeing carefully planned areas devestated by losses not to mention the cost of replacing. As you gain more experience you will be able to judge better when, where and what to plant - all part of enjoying developing your garden. Good Luck :)
Title: Re: When to plant?
Post by: David Bracey on November 05, 2013, 08:36:12 AM
Of course there are bad years when spring planting is better than autumn planting however on balance I still recommend planting in the fall. I also suggeest to use " plant Holes" rather than preparing large parcels of land. 
Title: Re: When to plant?
Post by: Alice on November 05, 2013, 12:28:10 PM
As you are in Mallorca and if you are unlikely to get frosts, I would favour autumn planting, at least for mediterranean climate plants. Spring would be better for tropical/subtropical ones.