9992 Your favourite garden centre/vivaio (Ancona/Le Marche area)

Dear Forum members,
I'd like to hear your recommendations of the best places to stock up the garden. Having just had our back garden landscaped and ready for planting, I need to draw up a list of garden centres/vivaio's to visit in and around Ancona. Or does anyone have recommendations for good vivaio's that sell plants on-line and deliver by post???

We will not be planting until September at the earliest and I've heard that the best time to purchase plants would be in February when the garden centres stock up for spring. Would you agree?

I'm thinking of having some perfumed climbers such as jasmine or honey suckles, then a fig tree, and some aromatic plants such as lavenders (but compact type rather than the usual lavandula augustofolia) and agapanthus (?) lilies. I'd also love a lemon tree, but to me it seems that they need lots of water and regular maintenance (feeding) and probably would not be suitable as ours is a holiday property, although we will have irrigation in place. Any advice?

Our garden is north facing which will mean shade during winter but plenty of sun during summer. Any recommendations for your favourite plants that are 'fail safe' are also welcomed!

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 15:59

Where to start - how big is your garden and what was in it before? If it was untended for some time before clearing you may be best to wait for next years weeds to germinate as anything you plant may be overrun with weeds in your absenceWhen the weeds grow you can kill them off before they seed.
It is always good to look and see what your neighbours plant to know what will survive and I would advise you to buy smaller plants and shrubs as they are more likely to establish than the older large ones.
Planting works well for us from October until February to ensure good root development before any drought conditions arrive.

Our favourite garden centres and Freddies in Moie near Jesi and Europa on the Jesi centro exit of the SS76.
Hope this helps

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 16:18

I'll second all of Olive's advice, particularly on having weed cleaned land in which to plant. I can't (not being local) advise on Ancona nurseries, but if they are anything like 'your average' Italian nursery they won't be terribly reliable on either flower colour or precise varietes: if you ask them they'll just say "yes"!

If you want to be sure that you are getting the exact plant which you want, then you'll have to use one of the excellent 'international' nurseries which abound in the Pistoia region, or venture into Tuscany [url=http://www.margheriti.it/eng-azienda.htm]Vivai Margheriti[/url] (wonderful online catalog). For anything remotely exotic (water lilies, lotuses) you can (really, you have to) do mail order. It's the same in the UK I think - if you are determined to have that exact clematis (or whatever) you need to go to the specialists.

If you just want to fill a garden at low cost, and get a colourful surprise when 'it' flowers, then just go to the most local garden centre - it is a good way to start, they will have the local knowledge! Do not underestimate the difficulties (impossibilty) of managing a 'fancy' garden from a distance.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 17:09

If you can I would go to the local markets as well, lots of advice on planting, and often the stall holders have their own nursery and will do a good deal re planting for you, I would think cheaper and as good as a garden centre which we usually avoid, suppose it depends on budget, but I think a good option.
A

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 06:53

Hi,
We love to have cut flowers in the house as soon as we arrive in Italy, I have bought many times from the company below and they deliver to Italy, they travel well as they are packed individualy , though I did take send some over in a parcel and they were fine on a 4 day delivery trip, once established these provide great colour for a long period in UK (south facing garden) May to Nov. so far these have established well in Italian soil,
I have also used this company to send plants or flowers to friends all deliighted, hope this is not thought to be advertising, just praise as deserved.
Look up other plant companies online they may well deliver to you.

[email]Alstroemeria_Direct@alstroemeria.co.uk[/email]

Regards Lin

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 06:59

About 40 minutes south of you on the A14 is the Val D'Aso (exit Pedaso).
There are a dozen large Vivai within 10 minutes drive of the motorway exit
(follow signs for Communanza).

The Val D'Aso used to be a famous area for fruit but there is more money in market gardening! I have no recommendations on which is best, but the ones we have tried ad hoc have been very good.