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[JayBee]

Not yet in Spain but I shall be quite soon.

Now, I have a Spanish girlfriend and we are trying to make our minds up about which region to live in.

My Celtic ancestry says Asturias and the Iberian says that we should be in the south.

I am not keen on the south. As Woody Allen would say, "I don't tan, I stroke!"

I would be much more comfortable growing in the north of Spain because I could grow all that I like. I eat (and drink) a lot of apples and am pretty sure that I would not be able to grow real apples in Andalucia.

What of the common vegetables that I grow in the UK? I grow lots of staples like potatoes, onions, carrots and leeks. I know these will grow in Asturias but what about Andalucia?

A lot of Andalucia looks like the surface of the moon to me. I have never been to Andalucia (though that will be rectified this month) but from pictures it looks dry and arid. I have been to Asturias many times and know where I stand with that region. What is the water situation like in Andalucia? Does anyone have irrigation problems?

I also want to grow bio-mass as I am sure it will get cold during an Andalucian winter just as with anywhere else. Does willow grow in Andalucia?

Essentially, I want to know what I can and cannot achieve in Andalucia before making my mind up where we will rent afore deciding where to buy.

Thanks for any help.

James.

[Alec]

Hi James,

In reply to your question, "it all depends on where you are". Location is everything here in Spain, and a garden that's flat, sheltered, with good deep soil and a ready supply of water is a rarity over here.

In common with many other members, we garden on an arid rocky slope. What looks like soil is just crumbled-down rock which dries out in an hour or two. As a result, we raise most of our vegetables on raised beds - boxes of four ex-railway sleepers filled with the best soil we can find, mixed with potting compost and whatever other sources of organic matter and nutrients we can find.

Although we're in a popular commercial market-gardening area (Algarrobo), it's not really possible to expect results similar to the professionals. Their shaded plastic greenhouses give shelter from the harshest sun, strongest winds and winter chills, and the results prove how necessary these are.

Irrigation is obviously essential, as I have found it's no use relying on an evening sprinkle with the hose. As for apples, I'm sorry to say that we lost our only tree (together with an established pear) despite good irrigation. However, we do quite well with Pomegranates, Nispero, Mangoes, Apricots and Peaches, Oranges and Lemons, Almonds, and Figs; also a banana in a shletered spot is looking promising. On the veggie front we have grown surprisingly good carrots, radishes, lettuces; tomatoes have been disappointing without shelter but chilies are a red hot favourite!

I think it's a good idea to try just a few of everything for a start, and then you can see what grows well for you; watch out to see which crops are most often grown around you, too. However, every year is different - some summers are much hotter, and winters can be very dry or very stormy. At the moment we have had no rain since 26th April (apart from a mere 1mm on 9th May) and it's often dry throughout September and well into October, so we do tend to welcome it when it finally arrives.

Good luck with your - when you do succeed it's worth all the effort!

Alec.