Last updated on May 8th, 2020 at 08:02 pm.
With a hot, dry climate you might have low expectations of what’s possible when it comes to creating colour in your garden. However, you might be surprised. Nico Clinton provides some gardening tips to help your garden in Spain flourish.
In the height of the summer, looking out across the landscape of southern Spain you might find yourself wondering how anything can survive there. The ground becomes dry and hard and July and August may experience no rain at all.
Conditions aren’t as harsh in other parts of the country and in northern Spain the climate has many similarities with that of northern Europe. However, whether you are based in the north or the south it is quite possible to create your own garden in Spain and maintain it.
What’s most important is to suspend any vision you had that’s based on your garden ‘back home’. Chances are that the plants that flourished there are going to be distinct foreigners in your plot in Spain. Neither should you visualise an oasis of lush green grass. You must chase away your pre-conceptions and embrace the climatic conditions you find – these must dictate your choice, along with your own circ*mstances of course.
Resident ornon-resident?
Your first consideration when creating your garden in Spain is the amount of time you are intending to spend here. It’s self-evident that over the summer only the hardiest of cacti, yucca or palm is likely to survive for long periods of time without water.
Succulent plants and cordylines are two more species that don’t need regular watering and can wait until your return to Spain. They might not be the delicate, flowering plants you’re after but they will provide rich greenery to welcome you when you return.
The conditions you provide
The next issue you must consider carefully is that of the plot itself. Do you have a patio that you will decorate with pot plants or have you land where you’re intending to plant? In some cases Spanish gardens are a mixture of the two with the majority of space being tiled and perhaps just a small section of patio dug out to provide an area of earth as a base.
Gardens in Spain can look very different from what you’re used to back home. Lush grassed lawns are not a real option due to their need for frequent watering. Instead you are better advised to landscape any land you have with tiling, fountains and seating areas. You will want to create areas of shade and light and excellent effects can be created with a relatively small number of plants to care for.
Watering
If you do decide on pot plants you should water these two or three times a week in the summer and once or twice in the winter. It might come as a surprise that you do not have to water them every day. Pot plants can easily become waterlogged and the roots will rot.
Nico Clinton has a wealth of experience of gardening in Spain. He sees this overwatering as one of the biggest mistakes that people make. ‘I see this happening time and time again. Even during the hottest periods, your plants will not need watering every day.’
Nico advises that during the spring and summer you should add some liquid fertiliser to the water once a week. During autumn and winter this should be reduced to every 15 days.
When should I start my garden?
It can be difficult for someone not used to the climate to work out what the actual growing season is. The summer with its scorching heat does not seem conducive to plant life, but in winter Spain can still have its moments of frost and periods of low temperatures.
The best time to invest time and money in your garden depends on what type of garden it is. However, a rule of thumb is that if you are using pots then any season is a good one for buying and transplanting new plants in Spain. However, if you’re planting directly into the ground you would be advised to wait until winter.
When things go wrong
As in any garden anywhere in the world, plants are subject to aphids and other pests. The most common insects in Spain are greenfly (mosca verde), white fly (mosca blanca) and mealybugs (cochinillas). The best treatment for these is to fumigate your plants once a week over a three-week continuous period with an insecticide.
Overall, the skills that made you a successful gardener in your own country are likely to transfer just as easily to Spain. But what if you are not one of those people who plants seem to thrive around? Nico suggests that if this is the case, you might want to invest in a hardy plant such as a yucca, oleander, bird of paradise, bignonia or lantana.
Once you’ve followed the advice in this article then, hopefully, you’ll have the confidence to experiment and populate your plot with some of the other colourful and vibrant flowers that seem to grow effortlessly by the roadside.
FAQs
The main takeaway here is that these plants are very easy to look after: all they need is natural light and a sprinkling of water every 7 to 10 days. Remember – too little water is better than too much when it comes to cacti, these plants are able to store enough water to survive long droughts.
What plant is Spain known for? ›
The pomegranate flower is the national flower of Spain. The pomegranate plant is famous for its healthy, antioxidant-filled fruit, but its flower is quite lovely.
What can you grow in Spain? ›
Corn (maize), grown in the north, is a major fodder product. Other crops include cotton; tobacco (grown in Extremadura); sugar beets (grown mainly in the Duero and Guadalquivir valleys); olives (produced in the south), a large portion of which are used for oil; and legumes (beans, lentils, and chickpeas).
What to plant in August in Spain? ›
Now, for all the usual hot weather veggies like beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds and sunflowers, you should plant those seeds directly into the ground around August 1.
When should you not water succulents? ›
The most important rule for watering succulents is this: Only water when the soil in the succulents' growing container is bone dry. We repeat, let the soil dry out completely between waterings. If the soil isn't crumbly, dry dirt, don't water it. See, most houseplants want their soil moist at all times.
Should I water succulents morning or night? ›
Third, one of the most overlooked rules when it comes to watering succulents is the time of day. Succulents should never be watered past 2pm in the Summer or 11am the rest of the year. Don't ask us where this rule came from, but it really does seem to make a difference. Photo: Checking to make sure the soil is dry.
What is the official flower of Spain? ›
The carnation is the national flower of Spain, Monaco, and Slovenia, and the provincial flower of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.
What is the Spanish plant Lady of the Night? ›
Cestrum nocturnum, the lady of the night, night-blooming jasmine, night-blooming jessamine, night-scented jessamine, night-scented cestrum or poisonberry, is a species of plant in the potato family Solanaceae. It is native to the West Indies, but naturalized in South Asia.
What plants can only be found in Spain? ›
Among over 1400 vascular plant species known solely from Spain are a pink Dianthus charidemi (iNaturalist), the Dwarf Spanish Foxglove (Herbario Virtual), Borderea chouardii (PLOS), Narcissus bugei (ARKive WM), the Alpujarras Mallow (AlmeriNatura), the Cazorla Violet (iNaturalist), Erodium astragaloides (IUCN), the ...
Can you bring plants from Spain? ›
If you are travelling in the EU you can carry meat or dairy products with you as long as they are for your own personal consumption. This also applies to plants or plant products, such as cut flowers, fruit or vegetables as long as they have been grown in an EU country and are free from pests or disease.
Lunch is the mid-day meal, or la comida as it is called in Spain, and it is the largest meal of the day.
What fruit grows well in Spain? ›
Production mostly takes place in the region of Murcia, with peaches (the star product), mandarins, apricots and pears being the most important. Some sub-tropical fruits such as mango and papaya are also produced in canned form.
Can you grow potatoes in Spain? ›
Spain has grown potatoes for centuries since the first plants were brought back from Peru and Bolivia.
Why is August so special in Spain? ›
In August there are a multitude of gastronomic festivals and local celebrations. For some cities, such as Málaga, Bilbao and San Sebastián, it's also the month when they hold their most important celebrations. And for flamenco lovers, August has something very special in store: the Festival del Cante de las Minas.
What vegetables grow in Spain in winter? ›
Cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, artichokes and endives are just some of the winter vegetables that brighten our gastronomy in the coldest months. Vibrantly colored Swiss chard, celery and root vegetables also bring cheer to Spanish dishes and palates until the milder spring temperatures return.
Can succulents go 2 months without water? ›
Succulents store extra water in their leaves, stems, or roots, allowing them to survive a while between waterings (sometimes a month or more).
How often should I water succulents in terracotta? ›
For most succulents, you only need to add water when the soil in the container feels 90% to 100% dry. It's important to let the soil dry out thoroughly between waterings, even if you're watering your other plants more frequently. You'll know if your succulent is thirsty when its leaves start to look a little wrinkled.
How often should you water succulents outside? ›
If your succulents are outside or in a greenhouse during the summer, you will want to water them about once a week. The soil should approach dryness, but not stay dry for long periods of time.
