9165 Wow Pot Marigolds

Do you have any photos of your marigolds?

We started with a few scattered poppy plants, using California-type seeds in many different colors, including doubles, and they have self-sown like crazy here in Puglia -- gorgeous!

I am not too sure if I know how to post a photo but will see what I can do. California poppy success sounds interesting, any more winners?

I haven't had a chance to experiment in Italy as yet; however, I am certain that Nasturtium should do very well practically everywhere, with the advantage that it does not only produce beautiful, colourful flowers. but you can also add leaves, flowers and pods to salads, particularly potato salad, for a delicious peppery flavour. The last time I planted them was in France and they did extremely well.
Happy gardening!

[quote=Mathematician;86308]We started with a few scattered poppy plants, using California-type seeds in many different colors, including doubles, and they have self-sown like crazy here in Puglia -- gorgeous![/quote]
Got any spare ones - or even seeds - I've not seen any here.

[quote=Gala Placidia;86333]...Nasturtium should do very well practically everywhere...[/quote]
I tried to grow some nasturtiums last year. They sprouted nicely and got to the point of each having two leaves the size of a €1 coin.

...At which point, they were covered with darling little beetles which rapidly turned the leaves into delicate lace.

So much for [I]my[/I] nasturtium experiment.

Al

Can you buy and grow Sweet Peas in central Abruzzo???

(I rated this thread a couple of days ago and I just saw the stars had disappeared. I was able to vote gain ..... strange)

[quote=AllanMason;86347]I tried to grow some nasturtiums last year. They sprouted nicely and got to the point of each having two leaves the size of a €1 coin.

...At which point, they were covered with darling little beetles which rapidly turned the leaves into delicate lace.

So much for [I]my[/I] nasturtium experiment.

Al[/quote]

Very strange what happened to your Nasturtiums as they usually they repell most pests. The size of the leaves is also a worry. My gardening book (I call it my gardening Bible) always praises them as an annual very easy to grow and I have done that in Australia, Spain and France. Although technically we are talking about an annual, it keeps on coming every year.....

[quote=Gala Placidia;86362]Very strange what happened to your Nasturtiums as they usually they repell most pests. The size of the leaves is also a worry.[/quote]
I mentioned the size of the leaves only as indicative of how long they were allowed to grow in peace before being eaten for lunch. I think it was less than two weeks from sprouting.

A quick Google leads me to think that the critters were some sort of flea beetle. Tiny things and not unattractive, but fairly voracious and, it seems, stoppable only by using some fairly unpleasant chemicals. I know from personal experience that a soap spray did absolutely nothing to slow them down.

Shame, really, since I do like nasturtiums. Maybe this year I'll try starting them indoors and plant out only when they're got a bit of size. At least it will then take the beetles longer to eat their way though them!

Al

In Umbria, in south facing, very large pots, nasturtiums thrive. They do not do so well in the ground. Once you have some seed you will need no more, as the seed pods are easy to gather up after flowering. The pots do need watering in high summer though. Calendula grows wild all around lago Trasimeno in March but we saw fields of it in Sicily in November. As for Poppies, I believe that we are not pemitted to plant the beautiful Opium Poppy here. Some will remember the UK couple with a holiday house in Umbria who were thrown into jail for having them in their garden. Finally seeds of "Love in a Mist" thrown into the ground do well too. Perhaps best of all, the wild flowers on our plies of builders rubble and stones, are the loveliest flowers of them all.

[quote=AllanMason;86371]I mentioned the size of the leaves only as indicative of how long they were allowed to grow in peace before being eaten for lunch. I think it was less than two weeks from sprouting.

A quick Google leads me to think that the critters were some sort of flea beetle. Tiny things and not unattractive, but fairly voracious and, it seems, stoppable only by using some fairly unpleasant chemicals. I know from personal experience that a soap spray did absolutely nothing to slow them down.

Shame, really, since I do like nasturtiums. Maybe this year I'll try starting them indoors and plant out only when they're got a bit of size. At least it will then take the beetles longer to eat their way though them!

Al[/quote]

Try to start growing them in large pots. They do very well and you can train them as climbers. Perhaps this way you can control the pests in a more effective way. As you say, it is a pity because nasturtiums are lovely and they make an excellent salad.

P.S. Sorry Noble, I just saw that you advised the same. I had a large terracotta pott planted with Nasturtiums in France and it really looked superb.

California poppies are NOT the same as opium poppies -- same family, different subspecies or something -- however, the flowers look somewhat similar. I'm interested in hearing more about someone being jailed for having the wrong kind of flower in their garden? Thanks, Paola

Irises - doesn't matter if they are the rhizome bearded ones or the dutch bulb ones - either type spreads like wildfire if you divide them (not difficult or requiring any skill). Istrice (porcupines) do like to eat them, but that is their only downside.

[quote=Charles Phillips;86474]Irises - doesn't matter if they are the rhizome bearded ones or the dutch bulb ones - either type spreads like wildfire if you divide them (not difficult or requiring any skill). Istrice (porcupines) do like to eat them, but that is their only downside.[/quote]
Any idea if boar also go for them?

There are only a few iris around our place and they're in places inaccesible to both boar and porcupines: for example, growing out of old dry-stone walls above very steep slopes. I've not seen any porcupines or signs of porcupines around our place (which obviously does not mean they aren't around), but we have no shortage of boar. I'd assumed there wasn't much point planting iris since if porcupines enjoy them, then boar would probably also soon dig them up.

Al

Both deer and boars eat mainly acorns. Perhaps to have a look at this may help you. I have not found anything specific for boars. Try: [url=http://www.deer-resistant-plants.com/]Deer Resistant Plants[/url]

[quote=AllanMason;86482]Any idea if boar also go for them?
Al[/quote]

We have masses of both - and no the boar do not to go for any of our bulbs ( irises, daffs, bluebells etc) they seem to prefer our neighbours orto!

Those poor people where thrown into Perugia Jail and apparently had "inherited" those Opium poppies in their village garden. I will see if I can find the old story. I did wonder at the time ...who had they upset??
We live 5 mins stroll from a village and own some woodland as well as a field and have tried hard to create a garden. Deer have been a nightmare, eating the thorniest roses. They like tulip bulbs too. I found a produce called Grazers from UK which I have sprayed on the roses as soon as the leaves appeared this year and have fingers crossed that it works to deter deer. I have found that the bright yellow daffodils that can look ghastly in England, look wonderful in Umbria and should creatures dig them up, they spit them out whole and I replant them. So plant daffodil bulbs for sure. Iris..we see them all over the place, on the flat and in banks but where we are the porcupines come down from the wood and have a party. I have tried to plant them where they cannot be got at, but they are winning. The chewed up bits get replanted year after year so I always have a few irise flowers. The tiny grape hyacinths grow wild and the shop kind i planted in groups have survived. There are of course moments when I feel that only cacti will survive!!

That funny story (the opium poppies resulting in going to gaol, if only for a couple of days...) was discussed here, at [url]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/gardening-agriculture/3238-wild-flowers-poppies-daft-question-2.html[/url], and there is still a link to the story at [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/3009116.stm]BBC NEWS | England | Somerset | GP jailed in Italy over poppies[/url].

[quote=Gala Placidia;86487]Both deer and boars eat mainly acorns. Perhaps to have a look at this may help you. I have not found anything specific for boars. Try: [url=http://www.deer-resistant-plants.com/]Deer Resistant Plants[/url][/quote]
I'm sure I'd feel differently about it if we'd had deer grazing on everything growing in the garden, but I've had only one fleeting glimpse of a deer in my 18 months in our corner of Abruzzo. I suspect that just as any rabbit foolish enough to stick it's nose out of a burrow is likely to soon end up in a pot, so any deer that comes anywhere near habitiation around our way is likely to do it only once.

As for boar-proof plants, I imagine that list would be [I]very[/I] short. Just about as long as the list of things that domesticated pigs will refuse to eat, I should guess! :bigergrin:

I agree that daffodils are on that list, but then the bulbs (unlike tulips, for example) are actually toxic, aren't they?

We have a steep bank near the house that's begging to be planted with stuff that doesn't need mowing, but unfortunately the boar do love to root around there looking for who-knows-what. The only solution I've come up with is to plant stuff, cover the whole slope with chicken mesh and then cover [I]that[/I] with some sort of mulch so it doesn't look hideous; I imagine that might deter the ever-questing snouts.

Maybe... :eerr:

Al

Al, something that perhaps could ward would be the spiny [B]"Crown of Thorns" [/B[B][I]](Euphorbia splendens). [/I][/B]It is very easy to grow and it should work as a natural barbed wire. I agree with you, I would not complain about deers, but wild boars are very frightening. I came near one in the Southern Lakes district of Argentina and it was not a pleasant encounter. I think the boars would not like the "crown of thorns". And yes, some bulbs are toxic, at least for humans or small pets, I have not asked the boars :laughs:

P.S. My husband suggested some more drastic measures, but I think that you would not like to have to pick up dead boars in your property.

[quote=Mathematician;86453]California poppies are NOT the same as opium poppies -- same family, different subspecies or something -- however, the flowers look somewhat similar. I'm interested in hearing more about someone being jailed for having the wrong kind of flower in their garden? Thanks, Paola[/quote]

Here's the link dear Matematician [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/3009116.stm]BBC NEWS | UK | England | Somerset | GP jailed in Italy over poppies[/url]
Oh and the Deer (Caprioli) are protected, can't shoot them and I am told that you need a special type of gun if any of you are considering venison stew! They strip olive trees, and have enjoyed most of the trees we planted from Gelso to Cachi. (Mulberry to Persimon).

Can someone remind me when poppy season is please? I am hoping to harvest some seeds from some wild poppies by the roadside in order encourage some to grow by our house. That should work shouldn't it?

[quote=Licciana;86626]Can someone remind me when poppy season is please?[/quote]

In Le Marche, we have some out now - but usually they are out in mid April to May.

[quote=AllanMason;86347]I tried to grow some nasturtiums last year. They sprouted nicely and got to the point of each having two leaves the size of a €1 coin.

...At which point, they were covered with darling little beetles which rapidly turned the leaves into delicate lace.

So much for [I]my[/I] nasturtium experiment.

Al[/quote]

Mine were pretty miserable too! Funny, I would have thought they`d have done well.

[quote=anne2;86627]In Le Marche, we have some out now - but usually they are out in mid April to May.[/quote]

Thanks. We're going out in 2 weeks' time so I hope I'll find some "up north". Suspect it may be too early for the seed heads to have developed, though.

NASTURTIUMS Seeds. Eurospin sell packets of them on their seeds stand.

All interesting stuff folks - just a few comments
Sweet peas for me were a dismal failure, too hot and dry I guess. They just shrivelled up and died
Nasturtiums worst enemy in my experience are blackfly, however broad beans are v popular hereabouts and they are often a martyr to them so perhaps in Italy not such a problem.
Am in UK at present and as always am grateful for the wide selection of seeds available, however there was a stand with a reasonable selection at my local Lidl store in Italy.
Bearded Iris grow really well in Lazio and I have planted some bought in UK and they are starting to establish, they do like a baking in summer. Beware of condition when buying the roots as they seem to dry out in the store more quickly than other roots, corms etc.
Interested to hear of other successes.

elliven - have you read this book? [url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Italian-Garden-Joan-Marble/dp/0552998419]Amazon.co.uk: Notes from an Italian Garden: Joan Marble: Books[/url]

I'm not sure this is the book written in English about a garden near (I recall) to Capodimonte on Lake Bolsena, but it is about gardening in Lazio. The garden near Bolsena is very much water-garden, and is occasionally visitable, but I cannot trawl up a reference (unless it is the Joan Marble one, but I am not convinced that it is the same garden). There you go forum folk - find a good reference to the water garden close to lake Bolsena!

Havng said that - water lillies grown in outside ponds in Italy come into the same category as pot marigolds for close to weedlike in their proflicacy.

I think that the first book she wrote was about gardening on a small roof top terrace in central Rome, which might be useful for members who have village houses or apartments.I actually found this the most interesting of her books, as it told of her life in Rome, and can be read by those who are not just keen gardeners for a flavour of the city.
A

I think that the main problem with Italian gardening is the large variety of climates and micro-climates that exist. It is a bit like Australia in a smaller container. What may be right for some areas may be a disaster for others. Trying to grow annuals in certain places may be hopeless and then, ground covers or small bushes, resistant to tough conditions may be the answer. I have seen that quite a few nurseries in Europe are importing Australian native species which are usually quite tough. I am talking about melaleucas, grevilleas, banksias, westringias, all very interesting and tough. Have a look at your local nursery and I also have a very good Australian gardening encyclopaedia with very sound, comprehensive advice.

Thanks for the link, Noble -- and collecting the seedheads from wild poppies will work -- be careful planting because the seeds are so small that they don't really need covering -- we had the kids walk on them after scattering them on damp earth, and that worked fine.
Another book about Italian micro-climate gardening that I like is Mediterranean Gardening by Heidi Gildemeister, particularly good source regarding the use of hardy native species.

[quote=Gala Placidia;86691]I think that the main problem with Italian gardening is the large variety of climates and micro-climates that exist. [/quote]

You are absolutely right! Even within a very small area.
Our local garden centre refuses to sell me a lemon tree and a bougainvillea - they know where we live and say I will be wasting my money as they will not survive our winter frosts even if well wrapped up! We are at approx 400m above sea level - local friends at a lower altitude are not so bothered by frosts and both do fine.

Thanks again for the suggestions. We are at 375m elevation and winter frosts can be severe, definitely polishing off bougainvillea and the like. The suggestions about Australian shrubs etc seem promising as bottle brushes seem to do very well here. I have even grown some from seed and perhaps in about five years they might flower! In cidentally they are quite easy but look out for snails of all things.
I think that winter shelter might be helpful, placing some plants under an olive tree, I have 200 to choose from, works quite well during the winter months - perhaps I should build an orangery - that should have the authorities guessing - agro use? Urban? etc.
Thanks for the recommendation for book re gardening in Lazio, I have the Gildermeister book already.

[quote=anne2;86715]You are absolutely right! Even within a very small area.
Our local garden centre refuses to sell me a lemon tree and a bougainvillea - they know where we live and say I will be wasting my money as they will not survive our winter frosts even if well wrapped up! We are at approx 400m above sea level - local friends at a lower altitude are not so bothered by frosts and both do fine.[/quote]

Try a minature lemon tree, it can come indoors in the winter and as the weather warms up can be put outside during the day. But don't over water it.
I was given a beautiful thankyou gift of a tall blue plumbago, summer 2005. As soon as the weather turned cold I cut it down but kept the canes standing in the pot. Then I double wrapped it really well wigwam style, in fleece. At the end of April I unwrapped it, watered and fed it some granular feed and left it in a sheltered but warm spot. Up it came again and at the end of this month I will do so again.
To make life a little cheerful we have violas in pots during the winter, they can stand the cold better than pansies here but in April I buy white Margherite type daisies with silver blue foliage and pot them into larger sized pots to double in size for summer and autumn display. They stand up to warm and cold outside if they have their backs to a wall until the end of May. A plant I wouldn't be without.