Gardeners corner

nightrider · Post by **nightrider** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:48 pm

nightrider wrote: Western Garden Book,
Edited by Kathleen Norris Brenzel
Published by Sunset Publishing Corp,
Menlo Park, California
Price ($32.95US)

Hi W.Greenfingers,

The above gardening book that I have already mentioned in a posting above is sold for such as the Algarve because the climate in California is similiar..... It is packed with information and my bible...and I have to say that I am certainly not a gardener .

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:42 pm

Thanks Nightrider

Sorry I missed it in your original post, but I am off to Amazon to see if I can buy. Did you buy this in Portugal or in the UK?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:48 pm

Sorry to be a pain Nightrider...is this the book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/ ... 42-6347856

thanks greenfingers

nightrider · Post by **nightrider** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:04 pm

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to be a pain Nightrider...is this the book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/ ... 42-6347856

thanks greenfingers

Hi Guest,

The book I have is as follows:-

www.sunsetbooks.com

Left hand side press 4th subject down Garden

Page 4

Last on page

Front cover of Book Red Roses on Green Background

Western Garden Book

768 Pages (2001)

Good Luck.Nightrider.

ps I believe on actual gardening tips etc someone like Ellie would possibly be able to give you practical advice..

elle · Post by **elle** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:41 pm

elle wrote:
greenfingerswannabe wrote:Is there a good book anyone can recommend please re gardening in Portugal???
P.S. Hi Greenfingers!
'Mediterranean Gardener' by Hugo Latymer is pretty useful!
Happy gardening

I recommended this one for the Greenfingers guest..not sure if thats same guest above?
Its published by Frances Lincoln,Royal Botanic Kew Gardens,1990,
It covers all types and design of Med. gardens..plus all plants & trees..
and the fundamentals to do with soil,watering etc.
If I can help with any questions..only too happy to,will do my best

blue · Post by **blue** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 12:35 pm

Can anyone tell me what the rules & regulations of bringing plants from abroad into Portugal are? Iv'e got quite a lot in planters in the garden which I don't mind leaving behind if I have to, though I would rather not but I really don't want to leave my aloe vera's behind. I've got two quite large plants & loads of babies. The original plant was sent to me 20 years ago from friends in Australia & it has been happily & prolifically growing on my kitchen window sill ever since, nearly all my family & friends have its children & grandchildren growing in their houses & they provide us all with instant medical assistance for burns, cuts rashes, etc. I really don't want to leave it behind

.

nightrider · Post by **nightrider** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:54 pm

Hi Blue,

All I can tell you is that we used a reputable removal company.. they advised that I could not take my indoor plants, some of which really mature i.e. big as smallish trees i.e. we had a conservatory... I have to confess that on occasion I bring back seeds from the UK and likewise from here to family and friends when I visit.

I think the best advice I can give is check with DEFRA UK Governement Dept...also of course some UK species don't do well out here.

Regards
Nightrider

Any ideas on this Ellie!

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:03 pm

Blue..I've been looking online regards this but have come up with anything so far!
We travelled over land when we moved to Algarve, but although an ardent gardener I never took any plants,but I did take quite a few packets of seeds..
I may be taking a chance saying this..but I don't see you having a problem with your Aloe Vera plant.
We knew a couple that had travelled out on a double decker bus and I believe they took some plants without any probs! But there could possibly be stricture rules now!
Its the transfer of plant disease,those that could carry pests/infections, that the authorities would be most worried about,I would have thought.
Maybe theres others here,with more experience, who can give you more info

blue · Post by **blue** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:42 pm

Thanks nightrider & Ellie, I will check with defra I hope there won't be a problem as they're in pots & kept indoors, though I was wondering as The Algarve climate is more like their natural environment if they would prefer to be kept outside.

elle · Post by **elle** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:59 pm

They can be grown outside all year round in tropical/sub-tropic countries Blue..
but night time temps can dip quite a bit in Algarve winter- so would either keep them in pots outside so you can move them in if it should get cold..or maybe a protected corner of garden where you could use fleece perhaps for extra chilly nights?
Ive never grown this myself- but its one of my daughter's favourites too

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:54 pm

Hi blue, we have aloe vera's growing in out garden (on the Algarve) by the pool, they grow quite large out there, last winter we had some very cold nights with frost which damaged them (as we are not living out there yet we couldn't cover them) some of the leaves went black and squishy. The one good thing is that if you cut the damage off the rest of the plant seems to come back, it also seems to have triggered loads of little ones around the base, which we will move to other areas next year.

blue · Post by **blue** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:08 pm

Lesley Jean thanks for the info, even if I can't bring my original plants I will definitely want to grow it out there though after your experience I will keep it in pots so I can bring it in. Did you get yours locally & is it the healing variety as there is more than one type?